Research
All active research projects in the laboratory are summarized below. For more details on a particular project, please follow the link at the end of its description.
 | - Blood-Brain Barrier Opening
- Many neurological disorders remain intractable to treatment by therapeutic agents due to the brain's natural defense: the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). The only truly transient, local, and non-invasive opening of the BBB under study as of now is with focused ultrasound (FUS). The purpose of this project is to understand the mechanism, ensure the safety and efficacy, and optimize the methods of BBB opening using FUS. Ongoing studies will lead to the development of optimal parameters to induce BBB opening, performing of long term studies of this phenomena, and testing for the delivery of model drugs. More… »
|
 | - Electromechanical Wave Imaging
- The heart is an electromechanical pump: for the myocardial cells to contract, they need to be electrically activated. Because the conduction properties of the diseased heart are different from normal tissue, the timings and patterns of this wave can be use to localize and characterize diseased regions. Electromechanical Wave Imaging (EWI) is an ultrasound-based imaging method that can map the electromechanical activity in all four heart chambers at very high spatial and temporal resolution, non-invasively and with real-time feedback. EWI could be used to assist in the diagnosis and treatment planning, monitoring and follow-up of patients with arrhythmias or undergoing pacing therapies in a non-invasive, low-cost, and real-time manner. More… »
|
 | - Harmonic Motion Imaging
- This research introduces the application of the Harmonic Motion Imaging (HMI) technique for tissue elasticity characterization. The HMI technique can monitor changes in tissues elasticity real-time during focused ultrasound surgery (FUS). The advantages of this technique are detecting cancerous tissues early and treating them non-invasively. More… »
|
 | - Myocardial Elastography
- The objective of this project is to develop a technique, myocardial elastography, for early detection of cardiovascular disease through measurements of the altered mechanical properties of the heart muscle. Myocardial elastography is designed for measurement of displacement and strain based on natural contraction of the myocardium. The current study focuses on verifying the myocardial elastography technique in a clinical setting using MRI tagging. More… »
|
 | - Pulse Wave Imaging
- Pulse waves are flow velocity, pressure, and diameter waves generated by ventricular ejection. This project investigates the relationship between pulse wave characteristics (e.g. propagation speeds, wave patterns) and vascular mechanical properties such as arterial stiffness. This technique may allow early detection and non-invasive mapping of vascular diseases, which may decrease mortality among high-risk patients. More… »
|
From the website of the Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging Laboratory at Columbia University.
Source: orion.bme.columbia.edu/ueil/projects.php
Date: May 21, 2013 at 7:23 AM
Copyright © 2013 Columbia University.
