WHAT IS ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique that captures tissues and organs without exposing patients to any form of radiation or magnetics. It is also commonly called ultrasonography or sonography meaning “ultrasound tomography”. Ultrasound has been used in clinical patient care in all specialties in medicine and research for more than 80 years. These applications of ultrasound historically exemplify its safety.
CLINICAL PURPOSE OF ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound is most known for its use in allopathic medicine and to a lesser extent in osteopathic medicine. Modern ultrasound research and clinical use span a very large range of diseases. The most dominant features of diagnostic ultrasound are the ability to monitor anatomical structures and functions of the organ and tissue. For example, the use of Doppler to assess blood flow velocity and volume in the heart and vessels.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
At RVU-SU based ultrasound research laboratory, our main goals in ultrasound research are to develop Evidence-Based osteopathic medicine, improvement of the application of ultrasound in disease prevention, and integration of ultrasound in osteopathic medical education. Therefore, we can provide opportunities to faculties and medical students opportunities with ultrasound research projects, conferences, and continue education activities.
A wide variety of clinical ultrasound research projects are conducting at the RVU-SU-based ultrasound research laboratory. This includes a clinical study of the heart function, vascular function (carotid, aorta), which uses state-of-the-art ultrasound strain imaging and vector velocity imaging. Tissue mechanical properties are closely correlated with the function of the tissue. Ultrasound enables the physician to perform tissue palpation without touching the patient, instead of using an ultrasound beam to touch/push the targeted tissue. High spatial resolution and large dynamic range ultrasonic imaging yield not only images of anatomical structures in tissue but also quantitative data for tissue elasticity and tissue blood supply, both important indicators for detection and diagnosis of diseases.
As an assessment of osteopathic manipulative examination, we have developed multiparametric ultrasound imaging biomarkers to quantify the change in the tissue with pain, tenderness, abnormal motion, and malfunction for the diagnosis of somatic dysfunction compared with healthy tissue. We have also developed multiparametric ultrasound imaging to monitor osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) effect quantitatively. The discovery of evidence-based osteopathic medicine may make osteopathic medicine more compatible with allopathic medicine.
