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A method for generating permeability elastograms and Poisson's ratio time-constant elastograms.

Righetti R, Ophir J, Krouskop TA

Department of Radiology, Ultrasonics Laboratory, The University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

The feasibility of imaging the permeability and Poisson's ratio time-constant of porous media was investigated. The study involved the following steps. First, poroelastograms were generated from porous tofu phantoms under sustained compression. The sample materials used for the experiments were previously characterized through independent mechanical measurements. Second, corresponding Poisson's ratio time-constant elastograms were generated by calculating and displaying the decay time-constants of the local Poisson's ratios over the time interval in which the poroelastograms were acquired. Finally, for homogeneous samples, permeability elastograms were generated using the poroelastograms in combination with a previously proposed biphasic theoretical model, under very specific conditions. A comparison between the results obtained using poroelastography and those obtained through independent mechanical measurements suggests that poroelastography may be used for imaging the local time-dependent behavior of poroelastic media.

Published 6 June 2005 in Ultrasound Med Biol, 31(6): 803-16.
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