CAREER: An Integrated Systems Approach to Understanding Complex Muscle Disorders

本研究的目的是研究肌肉骨骼、循环和神经系统之间复杂的动态相互作用，这些相互作用涉及到常见的、但鲜为人知的肌肉疾病。该方法是开发新的动态超声成像模式，用于量化各向异性肌肉运动学、粘弹性组织特性和血流，并将这些新方法与传统的组织氧合、电激活、强度和运动范围测量相结合，以表征潜在的生理系统。智能优势：实时超声成像非常适合动态肌肉功能研究，因为它具有成本效益，便携性，并且可以与其他测量相结合。然而，缺乏定量的动态测量和肌肉各向异性的挑战一直是超声广泛应用的障碍。拟议的研究旨在克服这些障碍。技术上的贡献是对新型超声波束结构、成像模式以及用于各向异性组织运动和粘弹性组织特性定量成像的信号和图像处理算法的理论和实验研究。更广泛的影响：这项研究将为理解肌肉骨骼疾病的功能限制和测量治疗效果提供有利的工具，有可能为这一重大的公共卫生问题带来更有效的治疗方法。作为新的生物工程课程的一部分，研究和教育目标被整合到研究生、本科生和高中生中。推广工作包括高中生暑期研究项目，鼓励学生从事科学和工程事业的生物工程示范工具包，以及通过展示影响学龄儿童的肌肉疾病的最新研究来吸引当地K-12社区。

The objective of this research is to investigate complex dynamic interactions between the musculoskeletal, circulatory and nervous systems involved in common, yet poorly understood, muscle disorders. The approach is to develop novel dynamic ultrasound imaging modes for quantifying anisotropic muscle kinematics, viscoelastic tissue properties and blood flow, and integrate these novel measures with conventional measures of tissue oxygenation, electrical activation, strength, and range of motion to characterize the underlying physiological systems. Intellectual Merit: Real-time ultrasound imaging is uniquely suited for dynamic muscle function studies because it is cost-effective, portable and can be integrated with other measurements. However, lack of quantitative dynamic measures and challenges due to anisotropy of muscle have been barriers to widespread use of ultrasound. The proposed research is designed to overcome these barriers. The technical contributions are the theoretical and experimental investigation of novel ultrasound beam configurations, imaging modes and signal and image processing algorithms for quantitative imaging of anisotropic tissue motion and viscoelastic tissue properties. Broader Impacts: This research will provide enabling tools for understanding functional limitations in musculoskeletal disorders and measuring treatment efficacy, potentially leading to more effective therapies for this significant public health problem. Research and educational objectives are integrated to engage graduate, undergraduate and high school students as part of a new bioengineering curriculum. Outreach efforts include summer research programs for high school students, a bioengineering demonstration kit encouraging students to pursue careers in science and engineering, and engaging the local K-12 community by presenting state-of-the-art research on muscle disorders affecting school-age children.