EAGER: A Surface Acoustic Wave Device for High-Resolution Atherosclerotic Plaque Inspection

在这个探索性研究（EAGER）的早期概念拨款提案中，我们的目标是研究一种低功耗、生物相容性的表面声波（SAW）设备，用于详细询问斑块组成，以量化其破裂的脆弱性。这一信息对于从根本上了解发达国家死亡的主要原因冠心病至关重要。在这项跨学科的试点研究中，将探索一种数字传感器和传感器阵列平台，该平台将与动脉壁接触以进行检查。由于微装置与动脉壁接触，任何边界条件的改变（如易损斑块的存在）都会改变接收波的相位和振幅。这一应对变化将用于量化“健康？动脉壁。这项研究在本质上是“高风险-高回报”的，其研究成果不仅使美国，而且使全世界数百万人受益，包括医疗服务不足的地区和患冠心病的高风险人群。此外，这项工作可能对患者护理产生重大影响，可能降低发病率和死亡率；并可能通过降低医疗成本影响美国经济。智力优势：这个跨学科的研究项目将从根本上研究一种低功率、生物相容性表面声波（SAW）设备，用于详细询问斑块组成，量化其破裂的脆弱性，从而提高动脉粥样硬化斑块表征的基础知识。如果成功，这项工作将导致一个集成，紧凑，高效和简单的SAW设备，能够准确识别易损斑块以及其他重要应用。提出的工作中重要的新项目是：1)首次展示基于表面声波的动脉粥样硬化斑块表征；2)解决当前最先进的昂贵的易损斑块检测系统的局限性的平台。更广泛的影响：本提案中包含的概念不仅适用于易损斑块检测，也适用于各种应用和混合应用的超灵敏传感器技术。所提出的SAW设备平台可用于新一代高密度设备的各个领域，包括靶向药物输送；医疗、化学和环境监测系统；医疗诊断应用；用于空间应用的微电子器件的冷却和微推进。提出的跨学科技术也可以解决各种重要的临床问题，例如，通过建立一个低功耗，完全集成的（混合器，传感器，阀门，泵，分离器等）芯片实验室设备，用于低资源环境下的疾病检测。一个不受限制的研究网站，解释声学医疗设备的基本原理和广泛影响，并记录我们的研究进展，将以适合广大非技术受众的语言建立。USF成功的研究生培训资助项目（NSF IGERT， NSF通往博士学位的桥梁I， II， III和Alfred P. Sloan少数族裔博士）将用于少数族裔和女性的优秀学生招聘。教育将侧重于研究生/本科生水平的课程“基本声学概念和声学换能器”，该课程将吸引来自多个系的学生。在当地高中频繁访问最先进的纳米技术研究和教育中心（NREC）期间，信息会议和单独的PI实验室之旅展示了基本的声学实验，这将进一步激励学生在STEM领域接受高等教育。作为拓展工作的一部分，K-12学生也将有机会在PI的实验室获得实践经验。

1135419GuldikenIn this EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposal, we aim to investigate a low power, biocompatible surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for detailed interrogation of plaque composition to quantify its vulnerability to rupture. This information is vital in fundamental understanding of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. In this interdisciplinary pilot study, an interdigital transducer and sensor array platform will be explored that will make contact with the arterial wall for inspection. As the micro-device is in contact with the arterial wall, any boundary condition change (such as existence of vulnerable plaque) will alter the phase and amplitude of the received wave. This response change will be used to quantify the ?health? of the arterial wall. The proposed research in nature is "high risk-high reward" with research outcome benefiting millions of people not only in U.S., but also worldwide including medically underserved geographical areas and people at high risk for developing coronary heart disease. Also, this work may have significant impact on patient care, potentially reducing the morbidity and mortality; and may affect the U.S. economy by decreasing healthcare costs.Intellectual Merit:This interdisciplinary research program will advance the fundamental knowledge on atherosclerotic plaque characterization by fundamentally investigating a low power, biocompatible surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for detailed interrogation of plaque composition to quantify its vulnerability to rupture. If successful, this work will lead to an integrated, compact, efficient and simple SAW device that is capable of accurately identifying vulnerable plaques as well as other significant applications. The significant novel items in the proposed work are 1) first time demonstration of surface acoustic wave based atherosclerotic plaque characterization; 2) a platform addressing limitations of the current state-of-the-art costly vulnerable plaque detection systems.Broader Impact:The concepts contained in this proposal are not only applicable for vulnerable plaque detection, but also for ultra-sensitive sensor technology for wide variety of applications and in mixing applications. The proposed SAW device platform may find use in new generation of high-density devices in various fields including targeted drug delivery; medical, chemical and environmental monitoring systems; medical diagnostics applications; cooling of microelectronic devices and micro-propulsion for space applications. The proposed interdisciplinary technique may also solve wide variety of important clinical problems, for instance via establishing a low powered, fully-integrated (with mixers, sensors, valves, pumps, separators, etc.) lab-on-a-chip device for disease detection in low-resource settings.An unrestricted access research website explaining fundamentals and broad impact of acoustic based medical devices and documenting our research progress will be established in a language suitable for broad non-technical audience. The successful graduate training grant programs in USF (NSF IGERT, NSF Bridge to the Doctorate I, II, III and Alfred P. Sloan Minority PhD) will be leveraged for bright student recruitment within minorities and females. Education will focus on a graduate/undergraduate level course "Fundamental acoustic concepts and acoustic transducers" that will be developed attracting students from several departments. Information sessions and separate PI's lab tours demonstrating basic acoustic experiments during the frequent visit from local high-schools to the state of the art Nanotechnology Research and Education Center (NREC) will enable further motivation of students to pursue higher education in STEM fields. K-12 students will also be given opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the PI's lab as a part of outreach efforts.