A combined parabolic-integral equation approach to the acoustic simulation of vibro-acoustic imaging

This paper aims to model ultrasound vibro-acoustography to improve our understanding of the underlying physics of the technique thus facilitating the collection of better images. Ultrasound vibro-acoustography is a novel imaging technique combining the resolution of high-frequency imaging with the clean (speckle-free) images obtained with lower frequency techniques. The challenge in modeling such an experiment is in the variety of scales important to the final image. In contrast to other approaches for modeling such problems, we break the experiment into three parts: high-frequency propagation, non-linear interaction and the propagation of the low-frequency acoustic emission. We then apply different modeling strategies to each part. For the high-frequency propagation we choose a parabolic approximation as the field has a strong preferred direction and small propagation angles. The non-linear interaction is calculated directly with Fourier methods for computing derivatives. Because of the low-frequency omnidirectional nature of the acoustic emission field and the piecewise constant medium we model the low-frequency field with a surface integral approach. We use our model to compare with experimental data and to visualize the relevant fields at points in the experiment where laboratory data is difficult to collect, in particular the source of the low-frequency field. To simulate experimental conditions we perform the simulations with the two frequencies 3 and 3.05 MHz with an inclusion of varying velocity submerged in water

Intracardiac measurement of pre-ejection myocardial velocities estimates the transmural extent of viable myocardium early after reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe hypothesized that wall motion velocity during pre-ejection is proportional to the regional content of viable myocardium after reperfusion for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).BACKGROUNDPre-ejection wall motion consists of short and fast inward and outward movement towards and away from the center of the left ventricle (LV) and is altered during regional ischemia. This short-lived event can be accurately quantified by Doppler myocardial imaging (DMI).METHODSFourteen open-chest pigs underwent 60 to 120 min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 30 min of reperfusion. The DMI data were collected using a phased-array intracardiac catheter (LV cavity) from ischemic and nonischemic myocardium encompassed within a plane passing through two epicardial bead markers. Peak tissue velocities during isovolumic contraction (IVC) (peak positive and peak negative), ejection (S) and early filling (E) were measured. The cardiac specimen was sliced through the epicardial markers in a plane approximating the ultrasound imaging plane. The transmural extent of necrosis (TEN) (%) was measured by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining.RESULTSDuring ischemia, positive IVC velocity was zero in ischemic walls with TEN >20%. At reperfusion, positive IVC velocity correlated better with TEN (r = −0.94, p < 0.0001) than it did S (r = −0.70, p < 0.01) and E (r = −0.81, p < 0.01). Differential IVC (the difference between peak positive and peak negative velocity) highly correlated with TEN, during ischemia (r = −0.78, p < 0.001) and during reperfusion (r = −0.93, p < 0.0001).CONCLUSIONSPre-ejection tissue velocity, as measured by intracardiac ultrasound, allows rapid estimation of the transmural extent of viable myocardium after reperfusion for AMI

Transformation elastodynamics and active exterior acoustic cloaking

This chapter consists of three parts. In the first part we recall the elastodynamic equations under coordinate transformations. The idea is to use coordinate transformations to manipulate waves propagating in an elastic material. Then we study the effect of transformations on a mass-spring network model. The transformed networks can be realized with "torque springs", which are introduced here and are springs with a force proportional to the displacement in a direction other than the direction of the spring terminals. Possible homogenizations of the transformed networks are presented, with potential applications to cloaking. In the second and third parts we present cloaking methods that are based on cancelling an incident field using active devices which are exterior to the cloaked region and that do not generate significant fields far away from the devices. In the second part, the exterior cloaking problem for the Laplace equation is reformulated as the problem of polynomial approximation of analytic functions. An explicit solution is given that allows to cloak larger objects at a fixed distance from the cloaking device, compared to previous explicit solutions. In the third part we consider the active exterior cloaking problem for the Helmholtz equation in 3D. Our method uses the Green's formula and an addition theorem for spherical outgoing waves to design devices that mimic the effect of the single and double layer potentials in Green's formula.Comment: Submitted as a chapter for the volume "Acoustic metamaterials: Negative refraction, imaging, lensing and cloaking", Craster and Guenneau ed., Springe

Impact on Clinical Outcomes From Transcatheter Closure of the Fontan Fenestration: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Meta-analysis of the impact on clinical outcome from transcatheter closure of Fontan fenestration. METHODS: Cochrane, Embase, MEDLINE, and Open-Gray were searched. Parameters such as changes in oxygen saturation, cavo-pulmonary pressure, maximum heart rate during exercise, exercise duration, and oxygen saturation after fenestration closure were pooled and statistical analysis performed. RESULTS: Among 922 publications, 12 retrospective observational studies were included. The included studies involved 610 patients, of which 552 patients (90.5%) had a fenestration. Of those patients, 505 patients (91.5%) underwent attempt at trans-catheter closure. When it could be estimated, the pooled overall mean age at trans-catheter fenestration closure was 6.6 ± 7.4 years, and the mean follow-up time was 34.4 ± 10.7 months. There were 32 minor (6.3%) and 20 major (4.0%) complications during or after trans-catheter Fontan fenestration closure. The forest plots demonstrate that following fenestration closure, there was a significant increase in the mean arterial oxygen saturation of 7.9% (95% CI 6.4-9.4%, CONCLUSION: Late closure of a Fontan fenestration has the impact of improving resting oxygen saturation, exercise oxygen saturation, and a modest improvement of exercise duration. These clinical benefits, however, may be at the expense of tolerating slightly higher cavo-pulmonary mean pressures

Experimental Verification of 3D Plasmonic Cloaking in Free-Space

We report the experimental verification of metamaterial cloaking for a 3D object in free space. We apply the plasmonic cloaking technique, based on scattering cancellation, to suppress microwave scattering from a finite-length dielectric cylinder. We verify that scattering suppression is obtained all around the object in the near- and far-field and for different incidence angles, validating our measurements with analytical results and full-wave simulations. Our near-field and far-field measurements confirm that realistic and robust plasmonic metamaterial cloaks may be realized for elongated 3D objects with moderate transverse cross-section at microwave frequencies.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, published in NJ

Human Physiological Responses to Cycle Ergometer Leg Exercise During +Gz Acceleration

Spaceflight and bed-rest deconditioning decrease maximal oxygen uptake (aerobic power), strength, endurance capacity, and orthostatic tolerance. In addition to extensive use of muscular exercise conditioning as a countermeasure for the reduction in aerobic power (VO(sub 2max)), stimuli from some form of +Gz acceleration conditioning may be necessary to attenuate the orthostatic intolerance component of this deconditioning. Hypothesis: There will be no significant difference in the physiological responses (oxygen uptake, heart rate, ventilation, or respiratory exchange ratio) during supine exercise with moderate +Gz acceleration