PFI: Partnerships for Innovation in Acoustic and Ultrasound Technologies for Medical and Industrial Applications

该创新合作伙伴关系（PFI）项目是维拉诺瓦大学（NSF PFI受让人）（0332490）和巴克内尔大学（PFI计划的新机构）之间的III型（A：C）合作伙伴关系（定义为从未成为PFI受让人）。 该项目应用声学信号处理的核心和新兴研究，旨在提高声学系统性能和增强超声成像。这是通过在签名分析和特征提取方面的进步实现的。 基于多个分布式传感器的新的融合方式进行检查，以进一步提高系统性能。 这种伙伴关系认识到不断增长的声学和超声波本地和国家就业市场，跨越医疗保健，汽车和航空航天领域，应用范围从医疗诊断和治疗需求到机械和产品的预测性维护，并扩展到声源培训和本地化。拟议的活动将有助于改进声学和超声波数据分析和成像。 医学超声成像的增强具有明显的社会影响，因为它们将提高诊断能力和生活质量，同时降低医疗成本。 在预测性维护领域，如果能够获得更多描述现有机器的状态和属性的信息，就可以在故障预测和安全问题方面做出更好的决策。该项目最初的合作伙伴是学术机构：私营部门组织：西门子公司和波音公司;州和地方政府组织：本富兰克林技术合作伙伴;和联邦政府实验室：海军海上系统司令部（NAVSEA）。

This Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) project is a Type III (A:C) partnership between Villanova University, an NSF PFI grantee (0332490), and Bucknell University, an institution new to the PFI Program (defined as one that has never been a PFI grantee). The project applies core and emerging research in acoustic signal processing, aiming at increasing acoustic system performance and enhancing ultrasound imaging. This is achieved through advances in signature analyses and feature extractions. Novel fusion modalities based on multiple and distributed sensors are examined for further system performance improvements. This partnership recognizes the growing acoustic and ultrasound local and national job markets, spanning the healthcare, automotive, and aerospace sectors with applications ranging from medical diagnostic and therapeutic needs to predictive maintenance of machinery and products, and extending to acoustic source training and localizations. The proposed activities will serve to improve acoustic and ultrasound data analyses and imaging. The enhancements in medical ultrasound imaging have clear societal impact, as they will increase diagnostic capabilities and quality of life while reducing medical costs. In the predictive maintenance field, if more information can be acquired describing the state and properties of existing machinery, better decisions can be made with regard to failure prediction and safety issues.Partners at the inception of the project are Academic Institutions: Villanova University (lead institution), Bucknell University, and Gwynedd-Mercy College; Private Sector Organizations: Siemens and The Boeing Company; State and Local Government Organizations: Ben Franklin Technology Partners; and Federal Government Laboratory: Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).