Ultrasound Imaging System

描述（由申请人提供）： 本提案旨在购买先进的超声成像系统，以支持目前NIH资助的心血管医学科和诊断放射科图像处理和分析组的多名研究人员的需求。每个研究人员都在进行研究，这些研究取决于或将受益于超声成像评价心脏功能、力学和/或形态的能力，没有人能够独立购买必要的超声成像设备。一个关键项目（项目1）侧重于开发图像分析工具，可用于从高分辨率3D图像计算心脏中的局部心脏和纤维特异性应变，以准确确定心肌活力。该项目将包括在梗塞实验模型中使用复杂的声量计阵列来验证3D超声心动图方法，以及试点临床研究。这些图像分析工具将适用于其他几个正在进行的项目。改进的超声换能器技术已经允许在大型动物中生成心脏的电影3D超声图像，并在包括转基因小鼠在内的小动物模型中分析局部和全局左心室（LV）功能。合作研究人员采用了各种实验性的小型和大型动物模型。所提出的超声成像系统满足研究者的所有需求。拟议的设备将用于四个NIH支持的R 01项目和两个K 08奖项。其中两个项目（项目1和2）需要对缺血性损伤犬模型的LV进行3D渲染。拟议的局部LV菌株分析对心肌存活力评估（项目1）和血管生成潜在底物评价（项目2）具有意义。其他四个项目（项目3-6）需要对小鼠和大鼠进行功能成像，以评估一系列生物过程，包括心肌代谢（项目3和6），血管生物学（项目5）和心脏中的缺氧信号（项目4）。购买拟议的系统将允许扩展目前的项目，以解决心血管成像的更多临床相关问题。这项共享仪器提案是建立综合实验心血管成像中心和NIH支持的培训计划的重要一步。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is for purchase of an advanced ultrasonic imaging system to support the needs of multiple current NIH funded investigators in the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Image Processing and Analysis Group of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology. Each of the investigators is conducting research that depends on or would benefit from the ability to evaluate cardiac function, mechanics and/or morphology from ultrasound imaging, and none could afford independently the purchase of the necessary ultrasonic imaging equipment. A key project (Project 1) focuses on the development of image analysis tools, which could be utilized for calculation of regional cardiac- and fiber specific strains in the heart from high-resolution 3D images for accurate determination of myocardial viability. The project will include validation of a 3D echocardiographic approach, using complex arrays of sonomicrometers in experimental models of infarction, and pilot clinical studies. These image analysis tools would be applicable to several of the other ongoing projects. Improved ultrasound transducer technology has allowed generation of cine 3D ultrasound images of the heart in large animals and analysis of regional and global left ventricular (LV) function in small animal models including transgenic mice. The collaborating investigators employ a variety of experimental small and large animal models. The proposed ultrasonic imaging system meets all of the needs of the investigators. The proposed equipment will be utilized in four NIH supported R01 projects and two K08 awards. Two of the projects (Project 1 & 2) require 3D rendering of the LV in canine models of ischemic injury. The proposed analyses of regional LV strains have implications for assessment of myocardial viability (Project 1) and evaluation of the potential substrate for angiogenesis (Project 2). Four other projects (Projects 3-6) require functional imaging of mice and rats for evaluation of a range of biological processes, including myocardial metabolism (Projects 3 & 6), vascular biology (Project 5), and hypoxic signaling (Project 4) in the heart. Purchase of the proposed system will permit extension of the current projects toward more clinically relevant issues for cardiovascular imaging. This shared instrumentation proposal represents an important step towards establishing a comprehensive experimental cardiovascular imaging center and a NIH supported training program.