The overall goal of our program is to develop an imaging technology to assess viscoelastic properties of tissue based on gas bubble dynamics, and, generally, to understand the gas bubble dynamics in viscoelastic medium in the context of several biomedical technologies. Indeed, microbubbles are playing an increasingly important role in biomedical and clinical applications where microbubbles are introduced not only in liquids but also in biological soft tissues. While bubble dynamics in liquid is well understood, the behavior of bubbles in tissue is not. However, such an understanding can lead to the development of novel and improvement of existing biomedical techniques based on how bubbles behave in a viscoelastic medium and how the bubble responds to internal or external excitation. In the current project, we will focus our attention on laser microsurgery of the eye tissue where the bubbles, produced as a result of laser-tissue interaction, are used to cut tissue. The remote, non-invasive, high temporal and spatial resolution, real-time measurements of gas microbubble behavior can be used to image or sense much needed mechanical properties of the eye tissues prior, during and after the surgery. Theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies of gas bubble dynamics in viscoelastic medium are proposed. We will develop a nonlinear model of radial oscillations of a gas bubble in an incompressible elastic medium. The developed model will account for internal gas pressure and the complexity of soft tissue including slight compressibility, tissue viscosity, and tissue elastic heterogeneity and anisotropy. We will also investigate passive bubble dynamics and bubble translational motion and oscillations in response to external excitation such as acoustic radiation force. Next, we will develop ultrasonic and optical techniques capable of measuring the temporal and spatial behavior of the gas bubble. Given these measurements, the algorithms to estimate elasticity (Young's or shear modulus) and viscosity of the tissue surrounding the bubble will be developed. Finally, we will perform laboratory studies to verify our model and to demonstrate the ability of our method to image or sense viscoelasticity of ocular tissues using gas bubble dynamics. Therefore, all theoretical and experimental studies will be conducted to evaluate applicability of the developed methods for ophthalmologic applications. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY018081-02
Application #
7475039
Study Section
Biomedical Imaging Technology Study Section (BMIT)
Program Officer
Shen, Grace L
Project Start
2007-08-01
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2008-08-01
Budget End
2009-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$324,907
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Yoon, Sangpil; Aglyamov, Salavat; Karpiouk, Andrei et al. (2013) The mechanical properties of ex vivo bovine and porcine crystalline lenses: age-related changes and location-dependent variations. Ultrasound Med Biol 39:1120-7
Yoon, Sangpil; Aglyamov, Salavat; Karpiouk, Andrei et al. (2013) Correspondence: Spatial variations of viscoelastic properties of porcine vitreous humors. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 60:2453-60
Yoon, Sangpil; Aglyamov, Salavat; Karpiouk, Andrei et al. (2012) A high pulse repetition frequency ultrasound system for the ex vivo measurement of mechanical properties of crystalline lenses with laser-induced microbubbles interrogated by acoustic radiation force. Phys Med Biol 57:4871-84
Yoon, Sangpil; Aglyamov, Salavat R; Karpiouk, Andrei B et al. (2011) Estimation of mechanical properties of a viscoelastic medium using a laser-induced microbubble interrogated by an acoustic radiation force. J Acoust Soc Am 130:2241-8
Karpiouk, Andrei B; Aglyamov, Salavat R; Ilinskii, Yury A et al. (2009) Assessment of shear modulus of tissue using ultrasound radiation force acting on a spherical acoustic inhomogeneity. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 56:2380-7
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Karpiouk, Andrei B; Aglyamov, Salavat R; Bourgeois, Frederic et al. (2008) Quantitative ultrasound method to detect and monitor laser-induced cavitation bubbles. J Biomed Opt 13:034011
Aglyamov, Salavat R; Karpiouk, Andrei B; Ilinskii, Yurii A et al. (2007) Motion of a solid sphere in a viscoelastic medium in response to applied acoustic radiation force: Theoretical analysis and experimental verification. J Acoust Soc Am 122:1927-36