A MULTIMODE SONIC & ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING METHOD

描述(由申请人提供)： 我们将通过集成对指示病理的生物声音的同步非侵入性可听频率测量来改进超声(US)医学成像技术。这种多模式声波/US成像技术将使诊断能力超越最先进的水平，是现有系统改装的理想选择。对自然发生的生物声学现象的测量可以通过提供关于材料结构和系统功能的独特信息来增强传统的成像技术。具有诊断价值的声波现象与广泛的生物功能有关，如呼吸音、肠音和血管杂音。通过将多模技术与振动声学技术相结合，可以进一步扩大潜在的应用范围。在振动声学技术中，人们通过聚焦调制超声对组织的局部区域进行非侵入性照射。这项技术和这项提议的最初重点将是为动静脉(AV)移植物相关的常见外周血管并发症提供一种改进的诊断工具。这项R21应用的具体目的是开发和评估建议的SONIC/US诊断技术跟踪和预测房室移植物失败的能力。为了实现这一目标，我们将：1)通过将商业US系统与新型声波传感器阵列和相关仪器相结合来构建多模系统；2)通过基于活体US图像使用简单且解剖准确的几何形状进行受控体模研究来校准和改进其性能；以及3)对3名人类AV移植患者进行系列可行性研究。可听频率(声波)传感器阵列垫将应用于周围血管US探头在其上操作的皮肤(或体模)。除了基本的解剖结构外，US探测器还对阵列中的离散传感器进行成像。阵列传感器检测并聚焦于由湍流及其与血管壁/移植物和周围生物组织的动态相互作用引起的诊断指示性声波现象。声波阵列提供了通过US成像无法获得的独特诊断信息。除了提供解剖几何学之外，US图像还使人们能够提高聚焦能力，从而提高声波阵列的诊断价值。为该项目组建的研究团队在生物组织中的声波运动、血管收缩中的血液动力学流动以及血管病理和振动-声学“特征”之间的关系方面拥有独特和必要的专业知识。最后，需要强调的是，虽然这里最初的重点是预测房室移植物失败，但所提出的诊断进展最终将更广泛地应用于多种病理的诊断和监测。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We will improve ultrasound (US) medical imaging technology by integrating a simultaneous noninvasive audible frequency measurement of biological sounds indicative of pathology. This multimode sonic / US imaging technique will advance diagnostic capabilities beyond the state-of-the-art and will be ideal for retrofit on existing systems. Measurement of naturally-occurring biological acoustic phenomena can augment conventional imaging technology by providing unique information about material structure and system function. Sonic phenomena of diagnostic value are associated with a wide range of biological functions, such as breath sounds, bowel sounds and vascular bruits. The potential range of applications can be further expanded by coupling the multimode technology with vibroacoustography, where one noninvasively insonifies a localized region of tissue via focused modulated US. The initial focus of the technology and of this proposal would be to provide an improved diagnostic tool for common peripheral vascular complications associated with arteriovenous (AV) grafts. The specific aim of this R21 application is to develop and evaluate the capability of the proposed sonic / US diagnostic technology to track and predict AV graft failure. To achieve this, we will: 1) construct the multimode system by combining a commercial US system with a novel sonic sensor array and associated instrumentation, 2) calibrate and improve its capability by conducting controlled phantom studies using simple and anatomically accurate geometries based on 3 dimensional in vivo US images, and 3) conduct serial feasibility studies on 3 human AV graft patients. An audible frequency (sonic) sensor array pad will be applied to the skin (or phantom) over which the peripheral vascular US probe is maneuvered. The US probe images the discrete sensors in the array in addition to the underlying anatomical structure. The array sensors detect and focus on diagnostically indicative sonic phenomena resulting from turbulent blood flow and its dynamic interaction with the vascular wall/graft and surrounding biological tissues. The sonic array provides unique diagnostic information unobtainable via US imaging. In addition to providing anatomical geometry the US image enables one to improve the focusing capability and consequently, diagnostic value, of the sonic array. The assembled research team for this project has the unique and necessary expertise in sonic wave motion in biological tissue, hemodynamic flow through vascular constrictions, and the relationship between vascular pathology and vibro-acoustic "signatures". Finally, it is emphasized that, while the initial focus here is on prediction of AV graft failure, the proposed diagnostic advancement has much wider eventual application to diagnosis and monitoring of numerous pathologies.