Method for determining a property of an object and associated device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining at least one property of an object, the method comprising a step of: a) obtaining first data relative to the object by an ultrasound imaging technique imaging the object at a frame rate superior to 300 Hz, characterized in that the method further comprises a step of: b) obtaining second data relative to the object by imaging the object with at least one of a X-ray and a γ-ray, and c) determining the at least one property of the object based on the first data and the second data.

1 . A method for determining at least one property of an object, the method comprising a step of:
 a) obtaining first data relative to the object by imaging the object according to a first imaging modality, the first imaging modality being an ultrasound imaging technique imaging the object at a frame rate superior to 300 Hz,   characterized in that the method further comprises a step of:   b) obtaining second data relative to the object by imaging the object according to a second imaging modality based on the detection of rays, each detected ray being a X-ray or a γ-ray, and   c) determining the at least one property of the object based on the first data and the second data.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first data are the movement of the object and wherein step c) comprises correcting the images obtained at step b) based on the first data, to obtain reconstructed images. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step a) is carried out with an ultrasound probe which is hold by a support. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the support is displaceable. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the support is a rod maintained by a positioner. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step a) is carried out with an ultrasound probe and wherein step a) comprises displacing the ultrasound probe in function of the movement of the object from one image to another image. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein step a) further comprises displacing the ultrasound probe in function of hemodynamics data. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at step a), at least one of the following properties is fulfilled:
 step a) comprises applying unfocused ultrasound waves   step a) comprises applying multiple ultrasound plane waves simultaneously.   the ultrasound imaging technique is chosen in the group consisting of functional ultrasound imaging, electromechanical wave imaging, shear-wave imaging, three-dimensional ultrafast ultrasound imaging, and four-dimensional ultrafast ultrasound imaging.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at step b), at least one of the following properties is fulfilled:
 step b) is carried out by using a computed tomography technique.   step b) is carried out by using a γ-scintigraphy technique.   step b) is carried out by using a positron emission tomography technique.   γ-rays are detected, the detection of γ-ray being in coincidence.   step a) being carried out at a first plurality of time instants, step b) is carried out at a second plurality of time instants and wherein at least one time instant of the first plurality being equal to one time instant of the second plurality.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 d) evaluating the attenuation of a γ-ray by the presence of ultrasound waves, and   e) compensating the evaluated attenuation by using a computed tomography technique.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein step b) and step e) are carried out simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is a biological object studied and the determined properties enables to achieve an angiography of the object. 
     
     
         13 . A device for determining at least one property of an object, the device comprising:
 a first imager adapted to image an object according to a first imaging modality, the first imaging modality being an ultrasound imaging technique imaging the object at a frame rate superior to 300 Hz,   a controller adapted to control the first imager to obtain first data relative to the object,   characterized in that the device further comprises a second imager adapted to image the object according to a second imaging modality based on the detection of rays, each detected ray being a X-ray or a γ-ray,   in that the controller is further adapted to control the second imager to obtain second data relative to the object,   and in that the controller is further adapted to determine the at least one property of the object based on the first data and the second data.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the second imager is a computed tomography imager or a γ-scintigraphy imager. 
     
     
         15 . A method for treating a disease of an area of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
 applying ultrasound waves in a continuous way on the area to be treated,   imaging the object according to a modality based on the detection of rays, each detected ray being a X-ray or a γ-ray, to obtain images, and   using the images to control the application of the ultrasound waves.