Current time-domain methods for assessing tissue motion by analysis from reflected ultrasound echoes-a review

The Doppler technique has traditionally been the method used to extract motion information from ultrasonic echoes reflected by moving tissues. The Doppler technique has been around for a long time, and has been extensively reviewed and analyzed in the literature. Recently, time-domain methodologies for estimating tissue motion have gained in popularity. Time-domain methods have advantages over Doppler methods in many applications, and as of yet have not been comprehensively reviewed. An overview of time-domain techniques that have appeared in the literature over the past few years is presented. Their potential advantages over Doppler are examined, and the individual techniques are compared.