Reducing Variability in Hepatic Shear Wave Elastography

 描述（由申请人提供）：肝脏剪切波弹性成像（SWE）是一种新技术，已被证明可用于区分早期和晚期肝纤维化。目前，观察者间的差异限制了剪切波弹性成像在弥漫性肝病精确分期和连续监测进展中的应用。该提案的广泛研究目标是减少剪切波弹性成像变异性。这项研究有两个具体目标。[Aim 1是创建一个新的系统-硬件和算法-通过（1）集成两个以前开发的系统：（a）力测量（FM）超声探头系统，其实时测量和显示所施加的换能器力（预载），允许操作者精确地控制所施加的预载，以及（B）光学跟踪系统（OTS），其相对于皮肤标记精确地定位换能器，促进剪切波弹性图的基于软件的精确配准，以及（2）创建新算法以处理由集成FM/OTS设备生成的数据。在目标2中，Samir博士将在30名人类受试者中进行临床试验，测试FM/OTS增强SWE相对于组织病理学分期肝纤维化参考标准的性能。职业发展目标：短期和长期。 Samir博士的短期目标是通过在MED- RC教师，特别是Brian Anthony博士的指导下结合设备设计，制造和软件开发来获得额外的技术技能和先进的临床试验技能，并在Raymond Chung医学博士的监督下获得先进的临床试验技能，他是肝病学研究专家。Ralph Weissleder医学博士和布鲁斯罗森医学博士都是放射学研究领域的知名专家，他们将在Samir博士的整个培训计划中指导Samir博士，以促进他的长期目标，即成为一名独立资助的研究人员，领导一个专注于快速开发和翻译医学超声技术的实验室。

 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.