Shear elasticity estimation from surface wave: The time reversal approach

Abstract

In this work the shear elasticity of soft solids is measured from the surface wave speed estimation. An external source creates mechanical waves which are detected using acoustic sensors. The surface wave speed estimation is extracted from the complex reverberated elastic field through a time-reversal analysis. Measurements in a hard and a soft gelatin-based phantom are validated by independent transient elastography estimations. In contrast with other elasticity assessment methods, one advantage of the present approach is its low sound technology cost. Experiments performed in cheese and soft phantoms allows one to envision applications in the food industry and medicine.