Diagnostic Technology Based on Acoustic Radiation Force

描述(由申请人提供)： 该项目的目标是为新的医疗诊断技术开发物理和技术基础，该技术基于使用超声波射频作为远程探测内部组织的虚拟手指。该项目的里程碑包括开发在模型物体中产生射频的实验系统，用于测试和验证在广泛频率范围内工作的射频发射机，设计用于远程探测射频引起的声信号的多普勒系统，对生物组织中的射频产生进行全面的数学分析，以及关于射频引起的骨骼和不同种类软组织中的局部和振荡波的实验室模型研究。该项目将最终分析基于射频的方法在医疗诊断领域的应用，在这些领域，拟议的技术比传统方法具有优势，如大脑评估、肌肉动态特征评估、髋关节脆性评估以及监测婴儿骨骼的生长和骨化。该项目基于物理和医学声学不同领域的几项创新，例如使用声学射频对骨骼进行远程评估、剪切波弹性成像、超声束的时间反转聚焦以及远程评估软组织剪切粘度。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the project is development of a physical and technical foundation for novel medical diagnostic technologies based on the use of ultrasonic RF as a virtual finger for remote probing of internal tissues. The milestones of the project include development of an experimental system for RF generation in model objects, for testing and validation of RF transmitters operating over a wide range of frequencies, design of a Doppler system for remote detection of RF induced acoustic signals, comprehensive mathematical analysis of RF generation in biological tissues, and laboratory model studies on RF induced local and oscillations waves in bones and heterogeneous soft tissues. The project will culminate in analyzing the applications of RF based methods in areas of medical diagnostics where the proposed technology has advantages over conventional approaches such as brain assessment; evaluation of muscle dynamic characteristics, assessment of hip fragility and monitoring the growth and ossification of infant's bones. The project is based on several innovations in different areas of physical and medical acoustics, such as use of acoustic RF for remote assessment of bones, Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging, Time Reversal focusing of ultrasonic beams, and remote evaluation of soft tissue shear viscosity.