Virtual Touch imaging, available on the ACUSON S2000™ and ACUSON S3000™ ultrasound systems, implements Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) technology for evaluation of deep tissues not accessible by superficial compression elastography. Virtual Touch Imaging provides a qualitative grayscale map (elastogram) of relative stiffness for a user-defined region of interest. Using this method, stiff tissue may be differentiated from soft tissue even if appearing isoechoic using conventional ultrasound imaging.
Virtual Touch Imaging Technology
A Virtual Touch image is acquired through a series of acoustic push pulse/detection pulse sequences. The process may be divided into three basic steps:
- Baseline image is acquired.
- Acoustic push pulse is transmitted to compress tissue.
- Detection pulses are used to track the degree of compression.
This process is repeated throughout the region of interest. The resultant image is displayed side-by-side to the corresponding B-mode image for comparison.
Benefits of Virtual Touch Imaging Technology
The benefits of Virtual Touch Imaging as compared to other elastography techniques include:
- No manual compression.
- Superior image quality.
- Decreased interoperator variability.
- Deep tissue imaging.
View Image Gallery: Virtual Touch Imaging
