VIBRO-ACOUSTOGRAPHY SYSTEM WITH CONTACT ARRAY PROBE

描述(申请人提供)：组织的粘弹性特性为 与组织状态和病理密切相关。振动声学(VA) 是我们实验室开发的一种新的成像方法，它可以显示 在选定的低点下组织对振动力的动态反应 频率(千赫范围)。这样的图像可以用于组织的评估 病理学。 振动声学成像系统利用超声波的辐射力来产生 一种高度集中的振荡力，使物体在每次振动时 指向。物体响应由水听器记录并用于产生 图像。结果是一个无斑点的横向视图，表示 物体对振动力的动态响应。在初赛中 体外实验，我们已经证明了振动声学可以用来成像 坚硬的物质，如人体动脉内的钙化，非常小 人类乳房组织中的微粒，如微米大小的微钙化，以及 肝脏的损伤。VA还可以用来成像和评估 人工心脏瓣膜。 这项提议的目的是开发一种具有以下功能的振动声学系统 一种活体应用的接触式探头。这项研究的目标将是 分两个阶段实现。第一阶段包括计算机模拟 这个系统。第二阶段以系统实施为重点。的目标是 第一阶段包括：系统设计、建模和评估系统 性能。第二阶段的目标包括设计和建造 超声探头、系统电子学的设计与制造 (发送器、接收器和监视器)，以及评估和优化系统 性能。这项研究的成功完成将带来一个新的 一类非侵入性成像和组织评估设备，将提供 有关组织的机械属性的信息不可用 从其他成像方式中分离出来。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Viscoelastic properties of tissues are closely related to the tissue state and pathology. Vibro-acoustography (VA) is new imaging method developed in our laboratory that produces a display of the dynamic response of tissue to a vibrating force at a selected low frequency (kHz range). Such images may be used for evaluation of tissue pathology. A vibro-acoustography system uses the radiation force of ultrasound to produce a highly concentrated oscillating force that vibrates the object at each point. Object response is recorded by a hydrophone and used to produce the image. The result is a speckle-free, transverse view, representing the dynamic response of the object to the vibrating force. In preliminary in vitro experiments, we have shown that vibro-acoustography can be used to image hard materials such as calcifications inside human arteries, very small particles such as micron-size microcalcifications in human breast tissue, and lesions in liver. VA can also be used to image and evaluate the integrity of prosthetic heart valves. The purpose of this proposal is to develop a vibro-acoustogrraphy system with a contact probe for in vivo applications. The goal of this research will be achieved in two phases. The first phase consists of computer simulation of the system. The second phase focuses on system implementation. The aims of the first phase include: system design, modeling, and evaluating system performance. The aims of the second phase include design and construction of the ultrasound probe, design and construction of system electronics (transmitter, receiver, and monitor), and evaluating and optimizing system performance. Successful completion of this research will result in a new class of noninvasive imaging and tissue evaluation device, which will provide information about the mechanical properties of tissue that are not available from other imaging modalities.