Cecille Labuda

Office: 1 Kennon Observatory
Email: cecille@phy.olemiss.edu
Phone: (662) 915-7928

Degrees Earned

• 2008: Ph.D., Physics, University of Mississippi
• 2003: M. S., Physics, University of Mississippi
• 1999: B. S., Physics; B. A., Mathematics, University of Mississippi

Research Interests

Ultrasonics

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) provides rapid energy deposition in the form of heat in the HIFU focal region. Almost all of the energy is delivered in the focal region; so while the temperature elevation in the regions of the beam outside of the focal region is low, the temperature elevation in the focal region is much higher. Temperatures in the HIFU focal region can be high enough to cauterize soft tissue. HIFU is used in some countries to treat tumors and it is also currently being developed for hemorrhage control. Because the energy is delivered only in the focal region, this allows targeting of the beam such that only the tissue in the targeted region is cauterized leaving the tissue between the applicator and the targeted region unharmed.

HIFU induced hemorrhage control has been successful in animal studies where the volume flow of blood in the treatment area is small, however, the rate of heat deposition is limited by loss of heat to the blood flow. As the volume flow rate increases, it becomes more and more difficult to achieve successful hemostasis. Some of my work involves studies using tissue-mimicking materials to find methods of enhancing the heat deposition in the focal region of the HIFU beam. My general research interests are the thermal effects of ultrasound and medical applications of physics.

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