| Home | People | Research | Publications | Facilities | Links |
Adaptive Imaging: A major NIH-funded effort in this laboratory explores the limits of ultrasonic image quality with advanced imaging methods and the potential of adaptive imaging to improve clinical image quality. Adaptive imaging methods compensate for the image degradation induced by tissue layers by"correcting" the signals transmitted and received by individual array elements. The key hypothesis of this research is that adaptive methods will improve the visualization or cancerous breast lesions. This research utilizes some of the most advanced imaging arrays ever constructed.
Microcalcification Detection: A NIH-funded effort focuses on methods of improving the ultrasonic detection of microcalcifications in the breast. Microcalcifications are often the earliest indicator of breast cancer and, given their small size, represent challenging targets for ultrasonic scanners. This research explores the nature of echoes received from microcalcifications and evaluates advanced methods of imaging them in clinical trials.
Acoustic Radiation Force: A research effort funded by the Army Breast Cancer Initiative explores the use of ultrasonic radiation force to measure and image, in real-time, the mechanical properties of breast and other tissues. Since cancers are usually much stiffer than surrounding tissues, we hypothesize that they will be well visualized by this imaging method, called Remote Palpation Imaging. Recently obtained clinical Remote Palpation images of the breast, thyroid, and abdomen demonstrate the promise of this new imaging method.
Flow and Motion Tracking: A long-standing, NIH-funded effort in Dr. Trahey's laboratory investigates the advanced blood flow and tissue-motion tracking methods using ultrasonic methods. These methods allow motion estimation in 2-D and 3-D, extending the solely 1-D capabilities of current Doppler methods utilized in commercial ultrasonic scanners. Current applications of these methods focus on quantifying the velocity and total volume flow in isolated blood vessels and cardiac jets and is measuring tissue motion over multiple dimensions.