Ultrasonic Instrumentation for Cardiovascular Studies

描述（由申请人提供）：我们的总体目标是开发超声仪器、换能器和技术，用于评估人类和人类疾病和病症的动物模型中的心血管生理学和功能，最近我们一直致力于在小鼠中的应用，其中高空间和时间分辨率至关重要。统一的主题是开发使能技术，该技术由简单，非侵入性的方法组成，研究人员可以使用这些方法来纵向跟踪心血管反应，因为模型发展，成熟和应对挑战，并快速筛选大量小鼠。在这次更新中，我们提出了以下具体目标：1）开发一个多通道，多门，多频率直流耦合脉冲多普勒主机和模块，用于测量小鼠中央（心脏和主动脉）和外周（颈动脉和冠状动脉）动脉中的血流速度和/或组织运动。2)开发和优化信号处理，从同时采集的多个速度和尺寸信号中采集、处理、显示和生成波形和指数。3)完善评价节段性动脉容积搏动的双速方法。4)使用速度和直径信号来表征动脉波传播、力学和反射。5)研究冠状动脉血流速度波形，并在几种小鼠模型中保留和验证异氟烷作为冠状动脉血管扩张剂的用途。传感器、仪器、信号处理和算法将允许在正常和基因工程小鼠的生长、成熟和发育过程中进行无创连续测量，并具有快速筛选的潜力。当在小鼠中验证时，许多一般概念可能在人类中具有诊断应用，并且可以被纳入临床超声扫描仪。公共卫生相关性：老鼠正被用于医学研究，研究基因如何控制心脏和血管的结构和运作，以及衰老和类人疾病如何影响它们的功能。由于小鼠心脏只有一颗小花生大小，而且跳动非常快，因此很难成像，很难检测血管中的阻塞，也很难使用标准方法详细测量心脏收缩和运动。我们的目标是开发和改进高分辨率超声传感器和设备，以测量用于医学研究的小鼠非常小的心脏和血管中的血流和运动。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our general goals have been to develop ultrasonic instrumentation, transducers, and techniques for evaluation of cardiovascular physiology and function in man and in animal models of human diseases and conditions, and recently we have been directing our efforts toward applications in mice where high spatial and temporal resolutions are critical. The unifying theme is the development of enabling technology consisting of simple, noninvasive methods which can be used by investigators to follow cardiovascular responses longitudinally as models develop, mature, and respond to challenges, and to quickly screen large numbers of mice. In this renewal we propose the following specific aims: 1) Develop a multichannel, multigate, multifrequency DC coupled pulsed Doppler mainframe and modules for measuring blood velocity and/or tissue motion in central (heart and aorta) and peripheral (carotid and coronary) arteries of mice. 2) Develop and optimize signal processing to acquire, process, display, and generate waveforms and indices from multiple velocity and dimension signals taken simultaneously. 3) Perfect a dual-velocity method to assess segmental arterial volume pulsations. 4) Use velocity and diameter signals to characterize arterial wave propagation, mechanics, and reflections. 5) Study coronary flow velocity waveforms and reserve and validate the use of isoflurane as a coronary vasodilator in several mouse models. The sensors, instrumentation, signal processing, and algorithms will permit noninvasive serial measurements to be made in normal and genetically engineered mice during growth, maturation, and development with the potential for rapid screening. When validated in mice, many of the general concepts may have diagnostic applications in man and could be incorporated into clinical ultrasound scanners. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Mice are being used in medical research to study how genes control the structure and operation of the heart and blood vessel and how aging and human-like diseases affect their function. Because the mouse heart is the size of a small peanut and beats very fast, it is difficult to make images, to detect blockages in vessels, or to take detailed measurements of heart contraction and motion using standard methods. Our goal is to develop and improve high resolution ultrasonic sensors and devices to measure blood flow and motion in the very small hearts and blood vessels of mice used in medical research.