Reducing Variability in Hepatic Shear Wave Elastography

 描述(申请人提供)：肝脏的剪切波弹性成像(SWE)是一种新技术，已被证明有助于区分早期和晚期肝纤维化。目前，观察者间的可变性限制了剪切波弹性成像在弥漫性肝病的精确分期和连续监测中的应用。这一建议的主要研究目标是降低剪切波弹性图的可变性。这项研究有两个具体目标。[目标1是创建一个新的系统-硬件和算法-通过(1)集成以前开发的两个系统：(A)力测量(FM)超声探头系统，它实时测量和显示施加的换能器力(预载荷)，允许操作员精确控制施加的预载荷，以及(B)光学跟踪系统(OTS)，它精确地定位换能器相对于皮肤标记，促进基于软件的精确剪切波弹性图的联合配准，以及(2)创建新的算法来处理由集成的FM/OTS设备产生的数据。]在目标2中，Samir博士将在30名人类受试者中进行临床试验，以组织病理学分期的肝纤维化为参考标准，测试FM/OTS增强SWE的性能。职业发展目标：近期和长期。Samir博士的短期目标是通过在MED-RC教职员工，尤其是Brian Anthony博士的指导下，通过设备设计、制造和软件开发，以及在肝病研究专家Raymond Chung MD的指导下，获得更多的技术技能和高级临床试验技能。Ralph Weissleder博士和Bruce Rosen博士都是放射学研究方面的知名专家，他们将在Samir博士的整个培训计划中指导他，以促进他的长期目标，即成为一名独立资助的研究员，领导一个专注于快速开发和翻译医用超声技术的实验室。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Shear wave elastography (SWE) of the liver is a new technology that has been shown to be useful for distinguishing early from advanced liver fibrosis. At present, interobserver variability limits the use of shear wave elastography for precise staging and serial monitoring of the progression of diffuse liver disease. The broad research goal of this proposal is to reduce shear wave elastography variability. The research has two specific aims. [Aim 1 is to create a new system - hardware and algorithms - by (1) integrating two previously developed systems: (a) a force-measurement (FM) ultrasound probe system, which measures and displays applied transducer force (preload) in real-time, permitting the operator to precisely control applied preload, and (b) an optical tracking system (OTS), which precisely localizes a transducer relative to skin markings, facilitating precise software-based co-registration of shear wave elastograms, and (2) creating new algorithms to process data generated by the integrated FM/OTS device.] In Aim 2 Dr. Samir will perform a clinical trial in thirty human subjects testing the performance of FM/OTS enhanced SWE against the reference standard of histopathologically staged liver fibrosis. Career development goals: Immediate and long-term. Dr. Samir's short-term goal is to acquire additional technical skills and advanced clinical trial skills through the combination of device design, fabrication, and software development under the guidance of MED- RC faculty, particularly Dr. Brian Anthony, and advanced clinical trial skills under the supervision of Raymond Chung MD, who is an expert in Hepatology research. Dr. Ralph Weissleder MD PhD and Dr. Bruce Rosen MD PhD, both well-known experts in Radiology research, will mentor Dr. Samir throughout his training program in order to facilitate his long-term objective, which is to become an independently funded investigator leading a laboratory focused on rapid development and translation of medical ultrasound technology.