- Center for Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
- Center for Advanced Computed Tomography Imaging Services
- Computational Breast Imaging Group
- Cardiovascular Research Group
- Center for Functional Neuroimaging
- Center for Translational Imaging Informatics
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging
- Laboratory for Multinuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Lab for Structural NMR Imaging
- Molecular Imaging Chemistry Lab
- Molecular Imaging of Cardiovascular Diseases
- Medical Informatics Group
- Medical Image Processing Group
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging
- Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation Group
- PET Center
- Penn Image Computing and Science Laboratory
- RADCORE
- RADIANCE
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Section
- Small Animal Imaging Facility
- Section for Biomedical Image Analysis
- Ultrasound Research Laboratory
- X-ray Physics Lab
Ultrasound Research Lab - Services
Contrast Enhanced Sonography
The use of micro-bubble based contrast agents for enhancing ultrasound images is now FDA approved for cardiac imaging, and being evaluated for other clinical applications. Ultrasound Research Services has the resources necessary for performing this type of imaging in both fundamental and harmonic modes. The capability for both qualitative and quantitative assessment of such images also exists within Ultrasound Research Services.
Quantitative Analysis Of Images
All the ultrasound images used for research purposes are taken in loops. When video tape is used, there is a facility for labeling individual frames on the tape and digitizing them frame by frame for computer analysis. An extensive software package has been developed in-house that allows semi-automated analysis of large data sets (up to 10,000 images per set) of sonographic and Doppler images. This resource allows monitoring of flow and gray-scale changes at a temporal resolution of 30 ms. The software has a large set of tools for measuring regional and global changes in vascularity and gray scale texture. This computer program is particularly suited for evaluating the kinetic response of the organs to pharmaceuticals.
Who Can Benefit From These Resources
Investigators with existing grants and protocols approved by the human and animal care committees. Investigators who plan to submit grants and need help in developing imaging protocols. Investigators who need pilot data. On a limited scale, Ultrasound Research Services will help the investigators acquire feasibility data, which can help to strengthen grant proposals. Investigators who are interested in using ultrasound imaging to monitor vascular and tissue response of various pharmaceuticals and other forms of therapies.
