Biomedical Acoustics Research
National Center for Physical Acoustics
University of Misissippi
University, MS  38677
Tel:  662-915-5905
Fax:  662-915-7494
email:  biomed@olemiss.edu

Delivery of HIFU treatment
for Acoustic Hemostasis

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Biomedical Acoustics Facilities
GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Tissue Phantom
for HIFU Testing
The primary mission of the Biomedical Acoustics Group within the National Center for Physical Acoustics is to conduct research to better understand and exploit the physical acoustic applications of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for medical applications. Currently the efforts of the Biomedical Acoustics Group are divided into two primary research areas: the general problem of severe trauma and how to provide the best available medical care and the potential use of HIFU in non- or minimally-invasive surgery.

HIFU Tissue Welding to
seal A PULMINARY LACERATION
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
An important goal of Biomedical Acoustics Group is to develop a clearer understanding of the physical and biological mechanisms that give rise to acoustic hemostasis, a process in which HIFU can be used to arrest bleeding in both vascular and capillary-bed bleeding with remarkable efficiency and flexibility. This research provides significant educational opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral research associates while allowing them to make significant contributions to its products. Ultrasound (US) is a unique modality in medicine in that it has both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The use of HIFU for therapy, although envisioned as early as the 1940's has enjoyed little commercial or clinical success. Recently, however, due to the significant advances in the fields of computing, imaging technology, and material science, there is resurgence in both the promise and the applications of HIFU therapy.

CURRENT RESEARCH areaS

Development of Ultrasound Technology for Remote Acoustic Hemostasis Applications. The Remote Acoustic Hemostasis project funded under the Combat Casualty Care Research Program of the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command involves....more

Acute Effects of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound on Blood Vessels In-Vivo. An intraoperative experimental device has been developed that uses a focused beam of high intensity focused ultrasound waves to seal tissues. This device has the possibility of being able to stop ....more

Image-Guided HIFU Therapy. A system is currently being developed that will combine HIFU therapy, ultrasound imaging, cavitation monitoring, and control capabilities in a single, integrated treatment device. The backbone of the system is the Analogic Corp. AN2300 “Ultrasound Engine,” ....more

Tissue Property Characterization and Cavitation Dynamics in Viscoelastic Media. The goal is to investigate the bubble dynamics in a viscoelastic material, such as soft tissue, which will include the thermal and mechanical effects of cavitation. Current work focuses ....more


HIFU Lesions on Tissue Sample

future goals
The long-term goal of the Acoustic Hemostasis project is the creation of a device that will quickly stop bleeding in severely wounded soldiers while still on the battlefield. In the near-term, this same technology will be used by trauma surgeons and EMTs to save the lives of critically injured accident victims. The Biomedical Acoustics group is also a part of an international team of researchers developing an engineered system for image-guided HIFU cancer therapy. The "engineered system" concept involves a multi-disciplinary integration of science and technology applied to complex problems. The final system will combine HIFU therapy, ultrasound imaging, cavitation monitoring, and control capabilities in a single, integrated treatment device.