Finite Element Simulation of Shear Wave Propagation Induced by a VCTE Probe

The Fibroscan (Echosens, Paris, France) device based on vibration–controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is used to non– invasively assess liver stiffness correlated to the hepatic fibrosis. Stiffness is quantified by measuring the velocity of a low–frequency shear wave traveling through the liver, which is proportional to the Young’s modulus E. It has been demonstrated that E is highly correlated with liver fibrosis stage as assessed by liver biopsy. To study the emergence of a two shear wave with different velocity in liver detected with the Fibroscan on different in vivo cases, simulations with finite element models (FEM) on a 3D anatomical model of liver and ribs can help to understand this propagation patterns. Indeed, the shape and the direction of the shear wave front induced by the Fibroscan probe in the liver are not entirely known.