Contactless Remote Induction of Shear Waves in Soft Tissues Using a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Device

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel contactless method to induce shear waves in soft tissues using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device combined with a permanent magnet, supported by experiments and a physical model.

Contribution

It introduces the first observation of remotely induced shear waves in soft tissues and develops a physical model based on Maxwell and Navier equations.

Findings

Shear waves of 5 and 0.5 micrometers were observed in phantom and tissue samples.

Experimental and numerical results showed good agreement.

The method offers an alternative approach to shear wave elastography.

Abstract

This study presents the first observation of shear wave induced remotely within soft tissues. It was performed through the combination of a transcranial magnetic stimulation device and a permanent magnet. A physical model based on Maxwell and Navier equations was developed. Experiments were performed on a cryogel phantom and a chicken breast sample. Using an ultrafast ultrasound scanner, shear waves of respective amplitude of 5 and 0.5 micrometers were observed. Experimental and numerical results were in good agreement. This study constitutes the framework of an alternative shear wave elastography method.