Finite Element Modeling, Computer Simulation, and Experiments of Shear Wave Propagation for Tissue Mechanical Property Assessment (2015)

Undergraduates: Allison Pinosky, Tomek Czernuszewicz

Faculty Advisor: Caterina Gallippi
Department: Applied Sciences

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The goal of this project is to develop a novel approach to tissue mechanical property measurement. This approach will not require spatial averaging, as alternative methods do, and will therefore better reflect the mechanical properties of heterogeneous tissues. Current noninvasive ultrasound imaging approaches to delineating tissue mechanical property include acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging and shear wave velocity (SWV) imaging. Shear wave imaging may be improved by statistical signal separation techniques, such as regression filters. Using statistical signal separation techniques, this project aims to incorporate the quantitative nature of SWV imaging with the minimal lateral displacement requirement of ARFI imaging to develop a novel approach to tissue mechanical property measurement. Many diseases, including atherosclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and fibrosis in the liver and kidneys, alter the mechanical properties of tissue. This approach would allow for better differentiation and diagnosis of diseases by noninvasive ultrasound imaging.