Research Opportunities
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Analog/Mixed Signal Integrated Circuit Design
For more information about research opportunities, check the Analog Lab home page or contact Prof. McNeill by e-mail mcneill@ece.wpi.edu, or by phone 508-831-5567.
Inverse methods for Ultrasound
One inverse problem of great practical importance is the ability to identify surface characteristics, such as planar, curved, smooth, irregular. An robust solution may for example be applied for corrosion detection and atherosclerotic plaque characterization. Using a newly developed Modeling technique for Ultrasound Pulse-echo systems, together with optimization routines, this Research effort aims at determining the measurement parameters, such as the insonifying and receiving field characteristics and the transducer location(s), which optimally differentiate between canonical surface characteristics.
For more information contact Prof. Peder Pedersen by email mailto:pedersen@ece.wpi.edu, or by phone 508-831-5641.
Characterization of atherosclerotic plaque by means of Ultrasound
This goal of this Research is the development of an improved method for identifying atherosclerotic plaque type, applicable to actual clinical measurement situations. This will help classify plaques into stable and unstable categories and determine stroke risk. The challenge lies in overcoming the aberrating effect of the inhomogeneous soft tissue layers between the transducer and the vessel; the concept is based on utilizing blood as a reference backscatter medium, in order to determine the absolute backscatter level of the atherosclerotic lesion. Preliminary work has been carried out for proof of concept. The Research involves development of signal processing algorithms and actual measurements.
For more information contact Prof. Peder Pedersen by email mailto:pedersen@ece.wpi.edu, or by phone 508-831-5641.
This work in conducted in collaboration with Hewlett-Packard in Andover, MA.
Ultrasound imaging physics
The purpose is to develop a numerical Modeling tool which can be used to predict how well surface topologies of tumors, organs or arterial plaques can be imaged through inhomogeneous media, such as soft tissue layers. Specifically, the Research work aims at extending a recently developed Ultrasound Modeling method to also include the measurement situation where an inhomogeneous, statistically described medium exists between the transducer and the reflecting structure.
The Research work will include deriving the velocity potential imPulse response in inhomogeneous media for a given transducer, and incorporating the result into the Modeling method, followed by numerical Modeling results. Additionally, experimental comparisons might be carried out.
For more information contact Prof. Peder Pedersen by email mailto:pedersen@ece.wpi.edu, or by phone 508-831-5641.
Last modified: December 10, 2007 11:24:37