Research Interests
The research in my group encompasses several new technologies being applied
to improving the clinical value of diagnostic ultrasound. The scope of this
work is best understood by considering some of my active projects.
1. 2D Arrays (funded by NIH RO1 grant)
Conventional ultrasound transducers almost always comprise a single row of
(N) piezoelectric elements that are scanned to form a 2D image. In this work,
we are forming an N x N element array. Our early prototypes involve the use
of 32 x 32 elements. Clearly, this presents many interesting design challenges.
The bulk of our design uses a sophisticated and exceptionally versatile Finite
Element Analysis modeling package (PZFlex). In addition to considering piezoceramic
based arrays, we are now investigating micromachined silicon transducers. Other
work that is ongoing in the area of transducers involves research into high
bandwidth design and in novel approaches to reducing inter-element crosstalk.
2. Mouse Heart Imaging (funded by NIH RO1 grant)
The mouse heart is less than one tenth of the linear dimension of the human
heart and beats approximately ten times as fast. Therefore, the investigation
of the progression of cardiovascular disease in the mouse heart (using disease
models closely related to the human case) presents many interestinging challenges.
This work involves the development of new transducers and innovative image processing
approaches for quantifying the resultant ultrasound images.
3. Prostate Cancer (funded by UVA Mellon Institute and US Army (pending))
In this work a new approach is being employed to investigate the replacement
of a conventional, but primitive, diagnostic approach (DRE) with a highly sensitive
ultrasound-based approach.
4. Breast Cancer (funded by The Whitaker Foundation)
This work involves the detection of mobile suspicious lesions by detecting
anomalous image motion during an ultrasound scan. It also involves innovative
approaches to 3D imaging.
5. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (funded by The Carilion Biomedical Institute)
This is a small-scale project that is investigating the utility of ultrasound
in the diagnosis and understanding of a condition that affects more than 12
million Americans.
For additional information about ultrasound technology at The University of
Virginia, please check the Web site for the Virginia
Medical Ultrasound Technology Group.
Selected Publications
French BA, Li Y, Klibanov AL, Yang Z, Hossack JA.
3D perfusion mapping in post-infarct mice using myocardial contrast echocardiography.
Ultrasound Med Biol. 2006 Jun;32(6):805-15.
Rychak JJ, Klibanov AL, Hossack JA.
Acoustic radiation force enhances targeted delivery of ultrasound contrast
microbubbles: in vitro verification.
IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2005 Mar;52(3):421-33.
Zhou S, Reynolds P, Krause R, Buma T, O'Donnell M, Hossack JA.
Finite-element analysis of material and parameter effects in laser-based thermoelastic
ultrasound generation.
IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2004 Sep;51(9):1178-86.
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