Biomedical Imaging Laboratory
Dr. Arthur Gmitro. The
Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, a collaborative effort
with the University of Arizona Department of Radiology, was developed to
design new techniques and new instrumentation for medical imaging.
The major areas of research are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
optical imaging. Current research is directed at development of
real-time interactive MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI, in-vivo confocal
microendoscopy, and multi-spectral confocal microscopy.
Biophotonics Laboratory
Dr. Nasser Peyghambarian.
The objective is to promote multi-disciplinary research that provides
rapid, noninvasive, high resolution imaging tools in biology and medicine,
new approaches for detecting and preventing diseases, and innovative
technologies for improving vision. The current effort is devoted to
developing next-generation adaptive spectacle lens using liquid crystal as
the active material. An important feature of this lens is its flexibility
in changing the focusing power. One focus area is to combine several
cutting-edge technologies to develop advanced scanning ophthalmoscope for
early diagnosis of retinal diseases. Such projects require extensive
knowledge in optics, optical design, ophthalmology, electronics, image
processing, and neural network. Another focus of recent research is to
investigate real-time, wide-field, depth-resolved, low-coherence
holographic imaging of biomedical cells and tissues using photorefractive
materials. With high-performance photorefractive devices, this technique
is faster than currently used optical coherence tomography which requires
intensive data processing. Other research interests include fluorescence
imaging and confocal imaging with improved resolution.
 Center for Gamma-Ray Imaging
Dr. Harrison Barrett.
The Center for Gamma-Ray Imaging
is a research resource funded by the National Institute of
Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). The overall
objective of the Center is to develop new gamma-ray imaging
instruments with dramatically improved spatial and temporal
resolution and to make them available to a wide community of
biomedical and clinical researchers. The collaborative research
supported by the Center will apply these new imaging tools to
basic research in functional genomics, cardiovascular disease,
and cognitive neuroscience and to research in breast cancer and
surgical tumor detection. In addition, the Center will make
contributions to the emerging science of image quality
assessment. Several of the imaging systems being developed
here are used with small animals, and the Center is dedicated to
humane treatment of animals. All studies are approved by the
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and all are
overseen by a licensed veterinarian employed by the Center.
Moreover, successful accomplishment of the Center's goals will
greatly reduce the use of animals in biomedical research since
noninvasive imaging procedures will often be substituted for
procedures requiring the sacrifice of the animals. 08-2009 Experimental Ultrasound and Neural Imaging Laboratory
 Dr.
Russell Witte. Diagnostic ultrasound
imaging has excellent spatial resolution and soft tissue
penetration, but typically suffers from poor contrast. The EUNIL
lab in the Department of Radiology develops novel tools and
techniques for enhancing ultrasound contrast designed for
biomedical applications. Photoacoustic imaging, for example,
generates ultrasound images based on optical absorption.
Ultrasound muscle strain imaging, on the other hand, portrays
human muscle contractions and deformation on the fiber
bundle/millisecond scale. We particularly focus on spatial and
temporal imaging of nerve, muscle and brain tissue using a
combination of electrodes, light and ultrasound. We also develop
novel nanoparticles for multimodal imaging and targeted therapy.
Potential applications range from epilepsy and Alzheimer’s
Disease to muscle rehabilitation and cancer.
Eye Oximetry Laboratory
Dr. Russell Chipman. The Eye Oximetry Laboratory is a test bed for
developing scanning laser ophthalmic technologies. A multi-laser scanning
laser ophthalmoscope performs spectroscopic studies of the retina. The
foremost application is the measurement of oxygen saturation in retinal
vessels.
Image-Quality Laboratory
 Dr. Matthew Kupinski. In collaboration with the Department of Radiology,
researchers seek to improve the diagnostic accuracy of physicians by
designing improved medical imaging systems. They use objective measures of
image quality which directly account for tasks in medical imaging such as
tumor detection. Current research includes the simulation of common
medical imaging systems such as x-ray and nuclear medicine imaging
systems, modeling the variability in patient anatomy, and designing
task-based measures for system optimization. Researchers in the
image-quality laboratory are now applying task-based image-quality
assessment to imaging fields outside of medical imaging.
Imaging System Laboratory
Dr. Michael Descour. This laboratory is home to several projects which
apply creative optical solutions to problems in biology and medicine.
Faculty members and students work on projects ranging from optical design
and fabrication to data processing, analysis and visualization. For
example, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Texas at
Austin (Biomedical Engineering), students are involved in the optical
design, fabrication and testing of a reflectance-based confocal endoscope
for the detection of cervical and oral cancers. Additionally a strong
collaboration with the Department of Physiology at the University of
Arizona is exploited for the development of a high-speed, imaging
spectrometer for fluorescence applications. This instrument provides data
for the development of spectral analysis techniques for multivariate
experiments in cell physiology.
Medical Image Processing
Dr. William Dallas. In collaboration with faculty members at the
University of Arizona Department of Radiology, research projects related
to x-ray mammography involve display characterization and optimized,
real-time, processing in preparation for display. Data handling aspects
involve reading sets of 4800x6400 pixel x 14-bit images. In addition to
the processing and analysis of images, experiments involving physicians
are constructed using the scripting capabilities of ImprocRAD (Image
Processing and Analysis in Radiology) imaging software. A second project,
in collaboration with faculty members at the University of Arizona
Department Radiology and the Sarver Heart Center, is the investigation of
the development of early warning for Right Ventricular Dysplasia, a
potentially fatal disease with sudden onset. Large image sequences are
prepared and analyzed. The dynamic image analysis is also supported by
ImprocRAD.
Molecular Spectroscopy and Interferometry Laboratory
Dr. Leilei Peng.
The Biomedical Spectroscopy and Interferometry Laboratory
develops innovative optical methods for biomedical applications,
especially new interferometric and spectroscopic techniques for
biosensing and molecular imaging. The current focus is to
develop a fast Fourier transform spectroscopic technique that
combines fluorescence lifetime and ratiometric analysis of both
excitation and emission in a single instrument, and to provide a
comprehensive platform for imaging more fluorescent marker
simultaneously. Current funding is provided by the National
Institutes of Health. 08-2009
Nuclear Medicine Research Laboratory
Dr. Harrison Barrett. In collaboration with the Radiology Department at
The University of Arizona, researchers in the Nuclear Medicine Research
Laboratory use optics to develop new imaging tools for medicine. A
major thrust of current research is the development of new gamma-ray
imaging instruments. In addition, researchers are investigating new
methods of tumor detection with surgical probes, improved resolution
imaging tools, and improved methods for image-quality assessment.
Ophthalmic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory
Dr. Jim Schwiegerling. Research revolves around the application of optical
science to ophthalmic issues, including corneal topographic analysis for
disease detection and visual performance assessment following surgery,
optimization of refractive surgery techniques and development of
ophthalmic instrumentation, wavefront sensing of aberration in the eye,
and visual system modeling with raytracing software.
Tissue Optics Laboratory
Dr. Jennifer Barton. Research in the University of Arizona Tissue Optics Laboratory is an
interdisciplinary effort. Students from biomedical engineering,
electrical engineering, optical engineering, and optical sciences
currently work in the lab building new imaging devices, testing new
applications, and performing signal and image analysis. The common
goal of all the lab's research is to improve healthcare through the novel
use of light. Research focuses on three technologies: optical
coherence tomography, fluorescence spectroscopy, and laser coagulation of blood. Current funding is provided by: the
National Science Foundation, the
National Institutes of Health, and
the Whitaker Foundation.
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