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Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is an emerging medical imaging modality that allows quantification of the mechanical properties of biological tissues in vivo. MRE typically involves time-harmonic tissue excitation followed by the displacement measurements within the tissue obtained by phase-contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques. MRE is believed to have great potential in the detection of wide variety of pathologies, diseases and cancer formations, especially tumors. This thesis concentrates on a thorough assessment and full rheological evaluation of the Rayleigh damping (RD) material model applied to MRE. The feasibility of the RD model to accurately reconstruct viscoelastic and damping properties was assessed. The goal is to obtain accurate quantitative estimates of the mechanical properties for the in vivo healthy brain via the subzone optimization based nonlinear image reconstruction algorithm. The RD model allows reconstruction of not only stiffness distribution of the tissue, but also energy attenuation mechanisms proportionally related to both elastic and inertial effects. The latter allows calculation of the concomitant damping properties of the material. The initial hypothesis behind this research is that accurate reconstruction of the Rayleigh damping parameters may bring additional diagnostic potential with regards to differentiation of various tissue types and more accurate characterisation of certain pathological diseases based on different energy absorbing mechanisms. Therefore, the RD model offers reconstruction of three additional material properties that might be of clinical diagnostic merit and can enhance characterisation of cancer tumors within the brain. A pneumatic-based actuator was specifically developed for in vivo human brain MRE experiments. Performance of the actuator was investigated and the results showed that the actuator produces average displacement in the range of 300 µmicrons and is well suited for generation of shear waves if applied to the human head. Unique features of the the actuator are patient comfort and safety, MRI compatibility, flexible design and good displacement characteristics. In this research, a 3D finite element (FE) subzone-based non-linear reconstruction algorithm using the RD material model has been applied and rigorously assessed to investigate the performance of elastographic based reconstruction to accurately recover mechanical properties and a concomitant damping behaviour of the material. A number of experiments were performed on a variety of homogenous and heterogeneous tissue-simulating damping phantoms comprising a set of materials that mimic range of mechanical properties expected in the brain. The result showed consistent effect of a poor reconstruction accuracy of the RD parameters which suggested the nonidentifiable nature of the RD model. A structural model identifiability analysis further supported the nonidentifiabilty of the RD parameters at a single frequency. Therefore, two approaches were developed to overcome the fundamental identifiability issue. The first one involved application of multiple frequencies over a broad range. The second one was based on parametrisation techniques, where one of the damping parameters was globally defined throughout the reconstruction domain allowing reconstruction of the two remaining parameters. Based on the findings of this research, multi-frequency (MF) elastography was performed on the tissue-simulating phantoms to investigate improvement of the elastographic reconstruction accuracy. Dispersion characteristics of the materials as well as RD changes across different frequencies in various materials were also studied. Simultaneous multi-frequency inversion was undertaken where two models were evaluated: a zero-order model and a power-law model. Furthermore, parametric-based RD reconstruction was carried out to evaluate enhancement of accurate identification of the reconstructed parameters. The results showed that parametric-based RD reconstruction, compared to MF-based RD results, allowed better material characterisation on the reconstructed shear modulus image. Also, significant improvement in material differentiation on the remaining damping parameter image was also observed if the fixed damping parameter was adjusted appropriately. In application to in vivo brain imaging, six repetitive MRE examinations of the in vivo healthy brain demonstrated promising ability of the RD MRE to resolve local variations in mechanical properties of different brain tissue types. Preliminary results to date show that reconstructed real shear modulus and overall damping levels correlate well with the brain anatomical features. Quantified shear stiffness estimates for white and gray matter were found to be 3 kPa and 2.1 kPa, respectively. Due to the non-identifiability of the model at a single frequency, reconstructed RD based parameters limit any physical meaning. Therefore, MF-based and parametric-based cerebral RD elastography was also performed.

Breast cancer is a major health problem across the globe. Many incidences in the underdeveloped nations go unreported, due to non-availability or lack of access to breast screening programs. Mammography, the current gold standard for breast screening, comes with several inherent limitations in terms of cost, radiation exposure, and associated discomfort. The cost of equipment and personnel alone puts mammography out of reach for most developing nations. Hence, there is a great and growing need for an adjunct breast screening modality, within reach of general masses, especially in the overpopulated, underdeveloped countries. Digital Image Elasto Tomography (DIET) is intended to be a low cost, radiation free, noninvasive and portable breast cancer screening modality that will be accessible to the general population and will encourage more women to undergo breast screening. The DIET imaging concept induces mechanical vibrations into a breast and its surface motion is captured with digital cameras and reconstructed in 3D, for elastic characterization of the breast tissues. Ex-vivo trials and limited in-vivo trials show promise in breast cancer diagnostic evaluation. The current DIET system is, as noted, functional, but not suitable for wide scale screening. There are significant development issues in hardware, software and algorithms required to improve its speed of testing and quality of diagnostic results. The main aim of this thesis is to overcome these issues taking the DIET system from the lab to a more directly useful and usable system. This thesis presents a complete design development and analysis of the DIET clinical system, developing a prototype suitable for large-scale in-vivo trials, to establish the sensitivity and specificity of this novel technology. The major components of this research are development, of the imaging array to capture surface motion, strobe illumination for reliable image capture, actuation system to vibrate the breast harmonically, remote positioning of the actuator, ergonomic design of the imaging device, and the development of a graphical interface for easy operation of the system. Moreover, anthropomorphic silicone breast phantoms suitable for diagnostic evaluation of elastographic imaging modalities, including DIET and MRE are also presented. A new approach in software based DIET diagnosis through separate modal analysis, focusing on the second natural frequency of the breast, is also presented. Finally, the new DIET technology developed is validated ex-vivo, using two different diagnostic techniques. The trials results are positive and demonstrate viability of this new technology for commercialization. All of these aspects have advanced the clinical and technological future of this overall DIET system concept. The overall thesis makes several technical advances necessary to advance the DIET concept from a purely research concept to clinical feasibility. These advances are coupled within an advanced design to create an all new clinical prototype system. The final, validated result shows the clinical potential, both ex-vivo and in-vivo, and clinical feasibility of the DIET concept and this research.

A primary purpose of elasticity imaging, commonly known as elastography, is to extract the viscoelastic properties of a medium (including soft tissue) from the displacement caused by a stress field. Dynamic elastography methods that use the acoustic radiation force of ultrasound have several advantages, such as, non-invasiveness, low cost, and ability to produce a highly localized force field. A method for remotely generating localized low frequency shear waves in soft tissue is investigated, by using the modulated radiation force resulting from two intersecting quasi-CW confocal ultrasound beams of slightly different frequencies. In contrast to most radiation force-based methods previously presented, such shear waves are narrowband rather than broadband. As they propagate within a viscoelastic medium, different frequency-dependent effects will not significantly affect their spectrum, thereby providing a means for measuring the shear attenuation and speed as a function of frequency. Furthermore, to improve the detection signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), increased acoustic pressure conditions may be needed, causing higher harmonics to be generated due to nonlinear propagation effects. Shear-wave propagation at harmonic modulation frequencies does not appear to have been previously discussed in the elastography literature. The properties of the narrowband shear wave propagation in soft tissue are studied by using the Voigt viscoelastic model and Green’s functions. In particular, the manner in which the characteristics of the viscoelastic medium affect their evolution under both low-amplitude (linear) and high-amplitude (nonlinear) source excitation and conditions that conform to human safety standards. It is shown that an exact solution of the viscoelastic Green’s function is needed to properly represent the propagation in higher-viscosity media, such as soft tissue, at frequencies much beyond a few hundred hertz. Methods for estimating the shear modulus and viscosity in viscoelastic media are developed based on both the fundamental and harmonic shear components.

Understanding cardiac pumping function is crucial to guiding diagnosis, predicting outcomes of interventions, and designing medical devices that interact with the cardiovascular system.  Computer simulations of hemodynamics can show how the complex cardiovascular system is influenced by changes in single or multiple parameters and can be used to test clinical hypotheses. In addition, methods for the quantification of important markers such as elevated arterial stiffness would help reduce the morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease. The general aim of this thesis work was to improve understanding of cardiovascular physiology and develop new methods for assisting clinicians during diagnosis and follow-up of treatment in cardiovascular disease. Both computer simulations and medical imaging were used to reach this goal. In the first study, a cardiac model based on piston-like motions of the atrioventricular plane was developed. In the second study, the presence of the anatomical basis needed to generate hydraulic forces during diastole was assessed in heathy volunteers. In the third study, a previously validated lumped-parameter model was used to quantify the contribution of arterial and cardiac changes to blood pressure during aging. In the fourth study, in-house software that measures arterial stiffness by ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) was developed and validated against mechanical testing. The studies showed that longitudinal movements of the atrioventricular plane can well explain cardiac pumping and that the macroscopic geometry of the heart enables the generation of hydraulic forces that aid ventricular filling. Additionally, simulations showed that structural changes in both the heart and the arterial system contribute to the progression of blood pressure with age. Finally, the SWE technique was validated to accurately measure stiffness in arterial phantoms. / <p>QC 20161115</p>

Cette étude se place dans le cadre du guidage des thérapies par ultrasons focalisés de haute intensité (HIFU). L’utilisation de l’échographie pour le guidage permet une visualisation temps réel mais un faible contraste. Afin de compenser ce manque de vision du traitement, deux études ont été mises en place. La première sur l’utilité de l’élastographie par compression manuelle en temps réel (23 à 60 images par seconde) a été réalisée et validée par deux protocoles in vivo. L’un a été effectué afin de visualiser des tumeurs VX2 dans le foie chez le lapin de manière extracorporelle et per-opératoire en utilisant une sonde de diagnostique linéaire (12MHz). L’autre a été réalisé sur des porcs avec la même sonde et avec une sonde d'imagerie sectorielle (7,5 MHz) placée au centre du transducteur HIFU. Une comparaison a été menée avec des images IRM des mêmes lésions réalisées après prélèvement de l’organe traité. Dans les deux cas, les élastogrammes assurent une meilleure visualisation des dimensions de la lésion (R=0,70) et un contraste plus important (23dB) en comparaison de l’échographie (R=0,65, contraste=3dB). La dernière partie de ces travaux a permis de démontrer que le signal ultrasonore rétrodiffusé par les tissus du foie change avec la température. Lors d’expériences in vitro et in vivo sur du foie de porc, ce changement de signal se corrèle (R=0,85) avec une hausse de température mesurée par un thermocouple positionné dans la zone focale du transducteur. Cette relation est linéaire positive in vitro et négative in vivo. Cette relation permet de calculer des images de température sur une plage de température allant de 20 à 100°C avec une précision de 5°C. / This study takes place under the guidance of high intensity focused ultrasound therapies (HIFU). The use of ultrasound for guidance allows real time monitoring, but low contrast. To compensate this lack of vision, two studies were set up. The first set up was used to evaluated usefulness of hand-held elastography in real time (23 to 60 frames per second) performed and validated by two in vivo protocols. One was performed to visualize VX2 tumors in the rabbit liver so extracorporeal and intraoperative using a diagnostic linear probe (12MHz). The other was carried out on pigs with the same probe but also with a sectorial imaging probe (7.5 MHz) placed in the center of the HIFU transducer. A comparison was conducted with MRI images of the same lesions performed after removal of the treated organ. In both cases, elastograms provide better visualization of the lesion size (R = 0.70) and higher contrast (23dB) compared to ultrasound (R = 0.65, contrast = 3dB). The last part of this work demonstrated that the ultrasound backscattered signal of the liver tissue changed with the temperature. In experiments on in vitro and in vivo pig livers, this changed of signal is linear and correlated (R = 0.85) with a rise in temperature measured by a thermocouple positioned in the focal zone of the transducer. The relation between backscattered signal and temperature is positive in vitro and negative in vivo. This relationship is linear and used to calculate temperature images with a range of 20 to 100 ° C and an accuracy of 5 ° C.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a form of cardiovascular disease whereby a change in the material properties of the vessel wall results in a localised dilation of the abdominal aorta. The primary risk of AAAs is rupture with mortality rates close to 90%. Whilst surgical intervention can be performed to repair AAAs, such procedures are considered high risk. As a result, surgery is only performed upon AAAs that are considered likely to rupture. The current method of prediction is the diameter criterion, with surgical intervention performed if the diameter of the AAA exceeds 5.5cm. Research has demonstrated that this is a weak method of predicting rupture and as such other methodologies are sought. One promising method is patient specific modelling (PSM) which involves the reconstruction of individual patient AAA geometries from imaging datasets, and finite element analysis (FEA) to calculate the stresses acting on the AAA wall, with the peak stress typically used as the predictor. A weakness of this methodology is the lack of patient specific material property values defined in the simulation. A potential technique to address this limitation is magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), an MR-based technique which utilises a phase-contrast sequence to characterise displacements caused by shear waves induced into the tissue by an external mechanical driver. An inversion algorithm is used to calculate local material property values of the tissue from these displacements. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the capability of utilising MRE to obtain material property measurements from AAAs that could be incorporated into PSM. To achieve this an FE method of modelling MRE was developed. The influence of modelling parameters upon the material property measurements made using the direct inversion (DI) algorithm was investigated, with element type and boundary conditions shown to have an effect. The modelling technique was then utilised to demonstrate the influence that the size of an insert had upon shear modulus measurements of that insert using DI in both 2- and 3-dimensions, and the multi-frequency dual elasto-visco algorithm (MDEV), an extension of DI combining information from multiple frequencies. Meanwhile a comparison of the modelling technique against an MRE scan of a phantom showed that whilst measurements made from the two techniques were different at low frequencies, they became similar as the frequency increased. This suggested that such differences were attributable to increased noise in the scanned data. FEA of MRE performed on idealised AAA geometries demonstrated that AAA size, shear viscosity of the thrombus and shear modulus of the AAA wall all influenced the accuracy of MRE measurements in the thrombus. Meanwhile MRE scanning of a small cohort of AAA patients had been undertaken and phase images investigated for signs of wave propagation to investigate the capabilities of the current MRE setup. Phase images were dominated by noise and there was no wave propagation visualised in any of the AAAs. This thesis demonstrates that the current MRE setup is not capable of achieving accurate measurements of material properties of AAA for PSM. Visualisation of wave propagation in AAAs is technically demanding and requires further development. A more fundamental concern however is the size dependence of the inversion algorithm used and the inability to consistently make accurate measurements from AAA geometries.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar um caso específico de epilepsia refratária causada por uma má formação no tecido cerebral, denominada displasia cortical focal (DCF). Por ser uma má formação no cérebro, suas consequências aparecem desde a infância, em que ela, a DCF, é a principal causadora das epilepsias de caso refratário. O mapeamento da região com DCF geralmente é feito por meio de imagens de ressonância magnética em conjunto com outras técnicas, como, por exemplo, o PET (positron emission tomography), o EEG (eletroencefalograma) intracraniano, entre outras. Contudo, por serem técnicas muito caras, de difícil realização ou muito invasivas, e por sabermos que as regiões displásicas possuem uma rigidez diferente da do restante do cérebro, foi proposto nesta dissertação o estudo desses casos utilizando uma técnica barata, simples, não invasiva e sensível à rigidez tecidual, a elastografia por ultrassom, na qual, para causar a deformação do tecido cerebral, foram usadas próprias artérias internas do cérebro. Para tal estudo, criamos um algoritmo de processamento de dados com uma interface gráfica GUI (graphical user interface) capaz de mudar os parâmetros de processamento e ver seus resultados em tempo real. Em seguida, esse algoritmo foi estudado em um ambiente controlado em material mimetizador de tecido biológico (phantom), no qual construímos um bloco de 10 x 10 x 12cm3, preenchido com material que mimetiza as propriedades mecânicas e acústicas do tecido mole e inserimos nele uma bexiga canudo preenchida com um uido simulador de sangue e uma inclusão mais rígida do que a base do material, posicionada acima do canudo. Foi utilizado, também, um acionador mecânico pulsátil para simular a pulsação mecânica equivalente à pulsação sanguínea da artéria cerebral. Foram feitas imagens elastográcas e de velocidade utilizando somente a deformação causada pelo deslocamento da bexiga, no interior do phantom, e, através de uma transformada de Fourier, foi calculado o período de pulsação da bexiga. Vimos que as imagens elastográcas e de velocidade foram capazes de localizar a inclusão, e o processamento temporal pode nos mostrar com precisão a frequência de pulsação da bexiga canudo. Finalizada essa etapa laboratorial, zemos o mesmo procedimento, porém in vivo, para dois casos: um com DCF tipo III-B, no qual não enxergávamos nada no modo B; e outro com tipo II-B, no qual foi observado uma diferença de impedância mecânica pelo modo B. As imagens foram coletadas durante o procedimento cirúrgico pelo próprio cirurgião usando um transdutor microconvexo acoplado a uma plataforma de ultrassom, modelo Sonix RP, e processadas num segundo momento. Vimos, no primeiro caso, pelas imagens elastográcas, as regiões mais rígidas, supostamente displásicas, que não estavam aparecendo no modo B e, no segundo caso, uma região maior do que a apresentada no modo B. Nossos resultados das medidas de frequência da pulsação arterial, para ambas as situações, 61; 5BPM e 91BPM, caram bastante próximos do valor medido com o eletrocardiograma durante a coleta do sinal, 65BPM e 94BPM, respectivamente. Por meio dos resultados da análise histológica, pudemos conrmar que o que estávamos enxergando com nosso programa era realmente uma região displásica. Dessa forma, concluímos que nosso algoritmo funcionou bem para esses casos clínicos. / The mainly goal of this work was to study a specic case of refractory epilepsy generated by a malformation in the brain tissue, called focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). Due the fact it is a brain malformation its eects show up since the childhood where it is the principal epilepsy generator. The mapping of this region is usually made by magnetic resonance images with another technique, such as, for instance, the PET (position emition tomography), the EEG (electrocardiogram), and others. However, for the fact that these techniques are expensive, dicult to perform or invasive, and knowing that the dysplastic regions are stier than the regular brain tissue, it was proposed in this dissertation the use of ultrasound elastography as a cheaper, simpler and noninvasive image modality capable to detect dierences in the tissue stiness of the FCD region. To generate the strain in the brain tissue it was used the pulsation of the local arteries. To achieve our goal, we created a data processing algorithm in MATLAB with a graphic user interface (GUI) capable to change the processing parameters to see its results in real time. This algorithm was tested in phantom using a block of tissue mimicking material (10 x 10 x 12 cm3). A balloon of latex led with a blood mimicking uid was immersed in the middle of the phantom and a cylindrical inclusion of 1 cm of diameter was immersed above the balloon. The bulb of the balloon was keep outside of the phantom to be mechanically pressured by a dedicated magnetic actuator, simulating the mechanical pulsation of the brain arteries. The velocity and elastography images were studied using just the strain caused by the displacement of the wall of the balloon tube inside the phantom. The period of pulsation was precisely calculated from these images. After that, we did the same procedure in two in vivo cases: one with FCD type III-B; and the other with FCD type II-B. All our intraoperative images were acquired for the surgeons using a micro convex transducer linked to an Ultrasound platform (Sonix RP) and, then, processed o-line. In the B mode scanning we didnât see any formation inside the brain for the rst case, and for the second, we did. In the elastographic images we saw a clearly stiffer region in the rst case that was invisible in the B mode; and for the second case, we saw a bigger stiffer region than we saw in the B mode imaging too. And for both results, the arteria pulsation frequency, 61.5 BPM and 91 BPM, were veryclose to the measured value collected in the electrocardiogram during the surgery, 65 BPM and 94 BPM, respectively. Analyzing the histological results we could conrm that what we were showing in our elastographic images were FCD, indeed. Thereby we concluded that our algorithm had worked in these clinical data.

A magneto-acustografia ou, em uma nova terminologia mais abrangente, vibromagneto-acustografia (VMA) é uma técnica que combina técnicas magnéticas e acústicas, a fim de observar o comportamento visco-elástico de um meio material marcado com partículas magnéticas (alvo). A força magnética oscilatória de frequência () provoca, dentro do alvo, movimento das partículas e do meio material com frequência (2). O feixe acústico pulso-eco utilizado para detectar o movimento das estruturas, tem uma frequência de repetição de pulso (PRF), no mínimo, cinco vezes maior que a frequência do movimento do alvo. Assim, a proposta deste projeto foi desenvolver um protocolo de aquisição, processamento e análise da técnica VMA, por meio da implementação de uma plataforma automatizada de aquisição, que forneça dados estruturados para posteriormente através de uma plataforma de processamento analisar diferentes aplicações da técnica VMA em fantomas e in vivo. A primeira etapa foi desenvolver a plataforma de aquisição utilizando um equipamento de ultrassom diagnóstico por imagem. Nesta etapa foi desenvolvido um software, com interface gráfica de usuário, escrito em C++ e Qt com a função de automatizar a excitação magnética e a aquisição acústica de alta resolução temporal, foram definidos os protocolos padrão dos modos de excitação magnética e de aquisição acústica em termos da taxa de aquisição dos frames ultrassônicos para gerar movimentos oscilatórios ou ondas de cisalhamento. Em seguida, os dados provenientes das aquisições foram estruturados por meio de um cabeçalho para transferência para outros computadores através do protocolo TCP/IP. Depois foi desenvolvida um software, com interface gráfica de usuário, para a fase de processamento e análise. O processamento dos frames adquiridos em modo radiofrequência (RF) consistiu em obter mapas de deslocamentos ou velocidades das estruturas internas do meio material utilizado como alvo. Nesta etapa adaptamos o algoritmo de correlação cruzada normalizada com correção de pico de máxima correlação x e obtivemos mapas otimizados para a técnica VMA. A avaliação da otimização destes mapas foi baseada na avaliação entre a resolução espacial e tempo computacional. A partir do uso destes softwares em experimentos com fantomas e in vivo foram desenvolvidos métodos de análise da frequência dos deslocamentos e segmentação/caracterização de ondas de cisalhamento em termos da sua velocidade e atenuação. Por fim, foi implementado um sistema VMA automatizado composto, por uma plataforma de aquisição embarcada em equipamento de diagnóstico por ultrassom para aquisição de mapas de RF e, que posteriormente eram transferidos para um computador com hardware superior para geração de mapas de deslocamento do meio material. Os mapas foram analisados para determinação de parâmetros visco-elásticos. Além disso, através da implementação da técnica VMA, viabilizou-se estudos clínicos de maneira rápida e eficiente, por exemplo, análises gástricas após a digestão de alimentos marcados com partículas magnéticas e produção de ondas de cisalhamento para caracterização viscoelástica. / The magneto motive ultrasound (MMUs) is a novel technique, which combines magnetism and acoustics, in order to observe viscoelastic behavior of medium labeled with inserted magnetic particles. The magnetic force with modulation frequency () creates a mechanical disturbance in the object of study with twice the modulation frequency (2). Was applied a pulse-echo ultrasonic beamforming with pulse repetition frequency (PRF) at least five times greater than frequency of internal structure movement. The aim of this study was to develop an acquisition, processing and analysis protocol for MMUs through implementation of an automated platform for acquisition, which provides structured datasets for further processing and analysis of different applications (tissue mimicking phantoms or in vivo) of MMUs. First step was to develop the acquisition platform using an ultrasound research interface (URI). At this stage was developed a software with graphical user interface (GUI) written using C++ and Qt. This software automates magnetic excitation and acoustic acquisition, which has high frame rate. In addition, were defined default presets to provide oscillatory movement or shear waves. Then was created datasets acquired were structured and a header and transferred to an external personal computer through TCP/IP network. Second, the processing software with graphical user interface for processing and analyzing was developed. The frames acquired in radiofrequency (RF) mode were processed into displacement or velocity maps of medium internal structures. In this stage, we adapted a cross correlation algorithm to optimize for MMUs datasets. The evaluation of these maps was based on tradeoff between spatial resolution and computation time. Protocols for analysis of motion frequency and segmentation/characterization of shear waves, extracting velocity and attenuation for experiments performed with phantoms or in vivo were developed . In this work, it was implemented an automated MMUs system integrated with a software framework running on an ultrasound research interface (URI), which is used for acquisition of RF maps, further transferred for a PC with robust hardware to process into displacement maps. These maps were analyzed to obtain viscoelastic parameters of the medium. Moreover, this implementation of MMUs enables clinical fast and efficient trials for gastric evaluation of meals with magnetic particles and shear wave production for viscoelastic characterization.

Neste trabalho é apresentada uma nova modalidade de imagens elastográficas baseada na emissão acústica, quando um meio é submetido à radiação ultrassônica. Esta técnica está sendo denominada de Acustografia por Pulso/Emissão (APE). Características não-lineares da propagação acústica de ondas ultrassônicas, e a resposta mecânica vibracional, foram utilizadas como artifício para geração de imagens com frequências da ordem de quilohertz (kHz), a partir da excitação com ondas ultrassônicas na ordem de megahertz. Para produzir imagens com essa nova modalidade, simuladores de tecido biológicos foram construídos com diferenças de rigidez localizadas, e submetidos a uma radiação ultrassônica focalizada (MHz). O som emitido devido a interação da onda ultrassônica com a região de interesse era gravado e processado de modo a associar a cada pequena porção do tecido a um valor relacionado a rigidez para a formação da imagem. Os resultados mostraram que o método pode produzir imagens associadas às alterações viscoelásticas das amostras. A resolução espacial mostrou-se fortemente ligada a morfologia do campo acústico de excitação, sendo possível detectar estruturas da ordem de 0,25 mm isoladamente. A técnica de aquisição, desenvolvida e apresentada neste trabalho, é similar a técnica de vibroacustografia todavia, com uma instrumentação reduzida e com a possibilidade de obtenção de mais informações da estrutura do meio material, a partir dos fenômenos não lineares observados. Estudos pilotos de aplicação desta nova técnica e com a vibroacustografia, foram realizados e comparados para a avaliação de potenciais aplicações, por exemplo, na avaliação do sinal acústico diante de mudanças nas propriedades viscoelásticas do meio induzidas por mudança de temperatura; formação de imagens em meios com inclusões isoecogênicas e com rigidez ligeiramente diferentes; geração de imagens de estrutura óssea in vitro. / In this work is presented a new modality of elastography images based on the acoustic emission when a material medium was subjected to a ultrasound radiation.This tecnique Nonlinearity behavior of the acoustic wave propagation and the vibrational mechanical response were used to produce images from kilohertz frequencies when the sample was excited by ultrasound waves in megahertz. To produce images with this modality, tissue mimicking phantoms were made with stiffness in homogeneities and subjected a focused ultrasound radiation pulses. The sound emitted due the interaction of the ultrasound wave with the region of interest was recorded and processed in order to associate each small portion of the tissue to a value for image formation. The results showed that this method can produce images associated to the viscoelastic changes of the samples. The spatial resolution have showed strongly linked to the morphology of the excitation acoustic field, this way was possible to detect isolated structures in order of 0.25 mm. The acquisiton technique developed and presented in this work is similar to the vibroacoustography technique, however with reduced instrumentation setup and with the possibility to acquire further information about the structure of the material from the nonlinear phenomenal. Preliminary studies of this new technique and the vibroacoustography were made and compared to evaluate the potential applications, for example, in the evalution of the acoustic signal behavior due changes in the viscoelastic properties changes induced by temperature variations; image formation in the medium with lightly stiffness inclusions; generation of the images of bone structure in vitro.