Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Imaging of Cardiac Tissue

描述（由申请人提供）：几乎所有形式的心脏病都涉及心肌硬度的变化。目前临床上可行的测量技术，以评估心肌硬度是侵入性的和/或涉及图像衍生的度量。我们提出了一种新的成像方法，称为声辐射力脉冲（ARFI）成像，在测量心肌组织的力学性能。该技术利用超声辐射力来移动组织。然后使用常规超声来观察组织对力的响应。我们目前的初步数据显示，这种技术在成像正常心肌功能下发生的硬度变化的成功。我们建议进一步发展ARFI成像技术，然后使用动物模型研究ARFI成像在检测心脏功能异常中的应用。此外，我们还建议对儿童心脏移植患者进行人体临床研究。这些研究将评估ARFI成像提供移植排斥反应早期检测、心力衰竭严重程度分级以及区分收缩性和舒张性心力衰竭的潜力。公共卫生相关性：心脏疾病通常涉及心脏僵硬的变化。我们开发了一种新的成像方法，可以显示心脏组织的硬度。我们提出了动物和人类研究，以确定这种方法可靠地检测和预测心脏疾病的潜力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Nearly every form of cardiac disease involves changes to the myocardial stiffness. Current clinically-viable measurement techniques to assess myocardial stiffness are either invasive and/or involve image-derived metrics. We propose the use of a new imaging method, called Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging, in measuring the mechanical properties of myocardial tissue. The technique employs ultrasonic radiation force to displace tissue. Conventional ultrasound is then used to observe the response of the tissue to the force. We present preliminary data showing the success of this technique in imaging the changes in stiffness that occur under normal myocardial function. We propose to further develop the ARFI imaging technique and then investigate the use of ARFI imaging in detecting abnormal heart function using animal models. In addition, we pro- pose human clinical studies with pediatric cardiac transplant patients. These studies will evaluate the potential of ARFI imaging to provide early detection of transplant rejection, in grading the severity of heart failure, and in distinguishing between systolic and diastolic heart failure. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Diseases of the heart often involve changes in the stiffness of the heart. We have developed a new imaging method that displays the stiffness of heart tissue. We propose animal and human studies to determine the potential of this method to reliably detect and predict cardiac diseases.