Research Projects – Cardiovascular Engineering

Cardiovascular Imaging

This research focus encompasses an inter-disciplinary effort to develop new methods to study, diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases, and to translate these developments into clinical use.

Our work draws on numerous resources including:

  • Advanced image acquisition, reconstruction and signal-processing methods using current, clinically available imaging equipment, as well as next-generation hardware
  • Multi-modality imaging techniques
  • Expertise in utilizing nanotechnology for molecular imaging and targeted therapy
  • Advances include early, noninvasive diagnosis of thrombus in Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), detection and risk assessment of atherosclerotic plaque by molecular imgaging with MRI, discrimination of calcium signal from contrast agent with Spectral CT imaging, and design and fabrication of MRI RF coils for dual frequency MR imaging.

Collaborators:

Biomedical Engineering Program at McKelvey school of engineering

Noninvasive detection of thrombus in Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
3D reconstruction of neovascular “hot spots” (red) in descending thoracic aorta (chain modeled) of hyperlipidemic rabbit based on molecular imaging with ανβ3-MnOL-Gd nanocolloid particle in a clinical MRI (3T). (Ref.: Wang et al. Nanomedicine. 2015 April)
Spectral CT molecular imaging example illustrating the discrimination of calcium and fibrin-targeted bismuth nanocolloid contrast agent (BiNC) in coronary vasculature thrombus.
Custom built RF coil for dual fluorine/proton MR imaging of tumor angiogenesis.