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

该创新伙伴关系项目是维拉诺瓦大学和巴克内尔大学之间的第三类(A：C)合作伙伴关系，维拉诺瓦大学是美国国家科学基金会创新伙伴关系项目的受赠人(0332490)，巴克内尔大学是创新伙伴关系计划的新机构(定义为从未获得创新伙伴关系项目资助的机构)。该项目应用了声信号处理的核心和新兴研究，旨在提高声学系统的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来实现的。研究了基于多传感器和分布式传感器的新型融合模式，以进一步提高系统性能。这一合作伙伴关系承认声学和超声波在当地和国家的就业市场不断增长，横跨医疗保健、汽车和航空航天行业，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，并延伸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，因为它们将在降低医疗成本的同时提高诊断能力和生活质量。在预测性维护领域，如果能够获得更多描述现有机械状态和特性的信息，就可以在故障预测和安全问题上做出更好的决策。项目开始时的合作伙伴是学术机构：维拉诺瓦大学(牵头机构)、巴克内尔大学和格温内德-梅西学院；私营部门组织：西门子和波音公司；州和地方政府组织：Ben Franklin Technology Partners；以及联邦政府实验室：海军海洋系统司令部(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).