Comparison of Longitudinal and Shear Wave Speeds Ultrasonically Measured in Agar-Glycerol Phantoms

In this study, the longitudinal wave speed (LWS) and shear wave speed (SWS) of the homogeneous agar-glycerol phantoms were ultrasonically measured, and the relationship between the compositions of phantoms and these two speeds was investigated. From the viewpoint of the measurement sensitivity of LWS and SWS, the LWS had the sensitivity to discriminate the differences in the glycerol weight concentration, while the SWS did not exhibit such sensitivity. These results indicate that the LWS can discriminate the composition of tissues different from that by the SWS in clinical diagnosis.