TISSUE CHARACTERIZATION VIA ULTRASONIC IMAGING

请求为联合国环境规划署的一个与资源有关的研究项目提供支助。 资源技术改进类项目 生物技术资源计划（BRP）的研究部门 资源 我们的目标是推进定量技术 超声成像，使超声可以用于非侵入性 组织病理学的鉴定。 为这个提供基础 目标我们计划一个跨学科的方法，结合基础研究， 物理学、工程学和医学， 生成组织特性的二维图像。 另外还 我打算1）建立在我们以前的研究相互作用的超声 和组织的各向异性的大小和特点， 组织，2）系统化超声场的表示， 减少所需的数据来描述该字段通过确定的时刻 能量在接收器孔径上的空间分布，3）寻找 通过交互式， 用于线性和可变孔径换能器的自适应波束形成 阵列，4）以测试的假设，定量图像上的内在 可以用反射超声产生组织特性，以及5） 建立一个数字多处理器系统来执行脉冲回波超声 衰减、相速度和后向散射的估计 二维的 为了实现这些目标，我们将建立一个处理 环境与计算机接口的超声断层扫描 扫描仪、现有的数字超声心动图仪和阵列处理器。 这 环境将用于模拟和实验研究 组织模型和组织样本。 数字多处理器成像 系统将在体外样本和体内动物上进行评价 研究将在NHLBI的独立支持下进行， 内科心血管科。

Support is requested for a Resource-Related Research Project in the category of Resource Technology Improvement under the auspices of the Biotechnology Resource Program (BRP) of the Division of Research Resources. Our objective is to advance the technology of quantitative ultrasonic imaging so that ultrasound can be used for the non-invasive identification of tissue pathologies. To provide the foundation for this goal we plan an interdisciplinary approach which combines basic studies in physics, engineering and medicine with the development of techniques for generating two-dimensional image of tissue properties. Specifically we intend 1) to build on our previous studies of the interaction of ultrasound and tissue by investigating the magnitude and character of anisotropy in tissue, 2) to systematize the representation of the ultrasonic field and to reduce the data needed to describe that field by determining the moments of the spatial distribution of energy over the receiver aperture, 3) to seek improvement in measurement capability of imaging systems via interactive, adaptive beamforming for both linear and variable-aperture transducer arrays, 4) to test the hypothesis that quantitative images on intrinsic tissue properties can be produced with reflected ultrasound, and 5) to construct a digital multiprocessor system to perform pulse-echo ultrasonic estimation of attenuation, phase velocity and backscatter in two-dimensions. To carry out these aims we will establish a processing environment with a computer interfaced to an ultrasonic tomographic scanner, an existing digital echocardiograph, and an array processor. This environment will be used for both simulations and experimenal studies of tissue models and tissue samples. The digital multiprocessor imaging system will be evaluated on in vitro specimens and through in vivo animal studies to be carried out under independent support from NHLBI to the Cardiovascular Division of the Department of Medicine.