In Vivo Determination of the Complex Elastic Moduli of Cetacean Head Tissue

Abstract

The primary technical objective is to remotely generate and detect mid-frequency elastic waves within the body of a living cetacean and to use the measured propagation parameters of these waves to obtain the complex elastic moduli by inversion. A further technical objective is to extract tissue moduli in this manner intracranially. This objective carries considerably more technical risk since both the wavegenerating ultrasound and the probe ultrasound will be attenuated, distorted and scattered by the passage through the skull. The final objective is to develop a prototype portable version of the technology and use it to perform examinations of stranded animals. Data collected with this system is envisioned to serve two purposes: 1) provide basic knowledge of in-vivo elastic properties, which is non-existent for marine mammals, and 2) provide a potential basis for non-invasive diagnostics of tissue pathologies, both naturally occurring or otherwise induced.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2009
Accession Number
ADA531201

Entities

People

  • Michael D. Gray
  • Peter H. Rogers

Organizations

  • Georgia Tech

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Cetaceans
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Dynamic Range
  • Elastic Properties
  • Elastic Waves
  • Frequency
  • Mammals
  • Marine Mammals
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Odontocetes
  • Secondary Waves
  • Simulations
  • Waveform Generators
  • Waves

Readers

  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Medical Imaging.