Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Cancer Research
Session: 4
Room: Exhibit Hall
Israel Ocelotl Chagolla - University of North Texas
Co-Author(s): Tae-Youl Choi and Arkadii Krokhin, University of North Texas; John Houston, Dualams.
Cancer is a common, lethal disease that in several cases leads to mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate and analyze the accuracy of ultrasonic elastography imaging for detection of cancer boundary. At present there is no ideal biomarker – molecular, immunological, or imaging – that can precisely detect cancer boundaries for removal. What is known is that near – complete removal of the tumor in surgery can contribute to improved diagnosis. This case study is designed to examine and study the mechanical properties and differences between healthy tissue and cancerous tissue with an ultrasonic probe approach to on-site professional development. The ultrasonic probe using high-frequency waves in the form of sound can detect an echo that returns to its origin and produces detailed signals in the electrical forms, resulting the mechanical properties of tissues [1]. An ultrasonic probe connected to a pulser was designed to take echo signals that wereanalyzed using MATLAB to measure mechanical properties [2]. We used various natural and synthetic materials with similar mechanical properties as tissue for comparison. The calibration of the ultrasonic probe was done by placing an aluminum plate under water in a tank with the ultrasonic probe 1 cm above it for scanning. Based on the experimental results we compared those experimental values with the theoretical values to confirm that the closest we got to theoretical values. Therefore, the ultrasonic probe was calibrated and functioning to test other materials. The major result was accurate calibration for aluminum with 0.13% error, which hence allowed us for moving forward to testing of other natural and synthetic materials that were alike healthy tissue and cancerous tissue without having to study actual human tissue. The technology and method, if successful, will allow for a non-invasive tool, faster detection of epithelial ovarian cancer boundary with expedited next bio-specimen determinations for an early validation of the method and technology. References:[1] K Nakamura. Ultrasonic Transducers: Materials and Design for Sensors, Actuators and Medical Applications. Oxford, Woodhead Publishing, 2016.[2] Jin, Yuqi et al. “Enhanced Instantaneous Elastography in Tissues and Hard Materials Using Bulk Modulus and Density Determined Without Externally Applied Material Deformation.” IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control vol. 67,3 (2020): 624-634. doi:10.1109/TUFFC.2019.2950343
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by an Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation grant from the National Science Foundation (Grant No. 1741677).
Faculty Advisor: Tae-Youl Choi, Tae-Youl.Choi@unt.edu
Role: I worked on the researching aspect of finding materials that we could use to mimic healthy and cancerous tissue, where I successfully found and fabricated some of these materials. I collaborated on the design for the ultrasonic probe. I personally conducted on site testing of each material where I saved and analyzed the data using MATLAB to find the mechanical properties like young modulus, elastic modulus, bulk modulus, and density modulus of each, where results were displayed in elastography images that were compared with real theoretical values.