EAGER: A Surface Acoustic Wave Device for High-Resolution Atherosclerotic Plaque Inspection

1135419Guldik在这项早期概念的探索性研究拨款(AGERGE)提案中，我们的目标是研究一种低功率、生物兼容的表面声波(SAW)设备，用于详细询问斑块成分，以量化其破裂的易损性。这一信息对于从根本上了解冠心病至关重要，冠心病是发达国家死亡的主要原因。在这项跨学科的初步研究中，将探索一种叉指换能器和传感器阵列平台，该平台将与动脉壁接触进行检查。当微装置与动脉壁接触时，任何边界条件的变化(如易损斑块的存在)都会改变接收到的波的相位和幅度。这种反应变化将被用来量化健康状况。在动脉壁上。这项拟议的研究本质上是“高风险-高回报”的，其研究成果不仅惠及美国数百万人，而且惠及全球数百万人，包括医疗服务不足的地区和罹患冠心病的高危人群。此外，这项工作可能会对患者护理产生重大影响，潜在地降低发病率和死亡率；并可能通过降低医疗成本影响美国经济。智力优势：这项跨学科研究计划将通过从根本上研究一种低功率、生物兼容的表面声波(SAW)设备来提高动脉粥样硬化斑块表征的基础知识，该设备用于详细询问斑块成分，以量化其破裂的易损性。如果成功，这项工作将带来一种集成、紧凑、高效和简单的SAW设备，能够准确地识别易受攻击的斑块以及其他重要应用。拟议工作中的重要创新项目是1)首次展示基于表面声波的动脉粥样硬化斑块表征；2)解决当前最先进的昂贵的脆弱斑块检测系统的局限性的平台。广泛影响：本提案中包含的概念不仅适用于脆弱斑块检测，还适用于广泛应用和混合应用的超灵敏传感器技术。建议的声表面波设备平台可用于不同领域的新一代高密度设备，包括靶向药物输送；医疗、化学和环境监测系统；医疗诊断应用；微电子设备的冷却和空间应用的微推进。拟议的跨学科技术还可以解决各种重要的临床问题，例如通过建立一种低功率、完全集成的(具有混合器、传感器、阀门、泵、分离器等)。在低资源环境下用于疾病检测的芯片上实验室设备。一个不受限制的访问研究网站将以适合广大非技术受众的语言建立，解释基于声学的医疗设备的基本原理和广泛影响，并记录我们的研究进展。USF成功的研究生培训资助计划(NSF IGERT、NSF通向博士学位I、II、III和Alfred P.Sloan少数民族博士学位的桥梁)将被用于在少数族裔和女性中招收优秀的学生。教育将侧重于研究生/本科生水平的课程“基本声学概念和声学换能器”，该课程将吸引来自几个系的学生。在当地高中频繁访问最先进的纳米技术研究和教育中心(NREC)期间，PI将举办信息会议和单独的实验室参观，演示基本的声学实验，这将进一步激励学生在STEM领域继续接受高等教育。作为外展工作的一部分，K-12学生还将有机会在PI的实验室获得实践经验。

1135419GuldikenIn this EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposal, we aim to investigate a low power, biocompatible surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for detailed interrogation of plaque composition to quantify its vulnerability to rupture. This information is vital in fundamental understanding of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. In this interdisciplinary pilot study, an interdigital transducer and sensor array platform will be explored that will make contact with the arterial wall for inspection. As the micro-device is in contact with the arterial wall, any boundary condition change (such as existence of vulnerable plaque) will alter the phase and amplitude of the received wave. This response change will be used to quantify the ?health? of the arterial wall. The proposed research in nature is "high risk-high reward" with research outcome benefiting millions of people not only in U.S., but also worldwide including medically underserved geographical areas and people at high risk for developing coronary heart disease. Also, this work may have significant impact on patient care, potentially reducing the morbidity and mortality; and may affect the U.S. economy by decreasing healthcare costs.Intellectual Merit:This interdisciplinary research program will advance the fundamental knowledge on atherosclerotic plaque characterization by fundamentally investigating a low power, biocompatible surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for detailed interrogation of plaque composition to quantify its vulnerability to rupture. If successful, this work will lead to an integrated, compact, efficient and simple SAW device that is capable of accurately identifying vulnerable plaques as well as other significant applications. The significant novel items in the proposed work are 1) first time demonstration of surface acoustic wave based atherosclerotic plaque characterization; 2) a platform addressing limitations of the current state-of-the-art costly vulnerable plaque detection systems.Broader Impact:The concepts contained in this proposal are not only applicable for vulnerable plaque detection, but also for ultra-sensitive sensor technology for wide variety of applications and in mixing applications. The proposed SAW device platform may find use in new generation of high-density devices in various fields including targeted drug delivery; medical, chemical and environmental monitoring systems; medical diagnostics applications; cooling of microelectronic devices and micro-propulsion for space applications. The proposed interdisciplinary technique may also solve wide variety of important clinical problems, for instance via establishing a low powered, fully-integrated (with mixers, sensors, valves, pumps, separators, etc.) lab-on-a-chip device for disease detection in low-resource settings.An unrestricted access research website explaining fundamentals and broad impact of acoustic based medical devices and documenting our research progress will be established in a language suitable for broad non-technical audience. The successful graduate training grant programs in USF (NSF IGERT, NSF Bridge to the Doctorate I, II, III and Alfred P. Sloan Minority PhD) will be leveraged for bright student recruitment within minorities and females. Education will focus on a graduate/undergraduate level course "Fundamental acoustic concepts and acoustic transducers" that will be developed attracting students from several departments. Information sessions and separate PI's lab tours demonstrating basic acoustic experiments during the frequent visit from local high-schools to the state of the art Nanotechnology Research and Education Center (NREC) will enable further motivation of students to pursue higher education in STEM fields. K-12 students will also be given opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the PI's lab as a part of outreach efforts.