BIOE 500 Fall 2025 - Dr. Stephen McAleavey

Shake it like a Polaroid picture: Ultrasound Imaging with Shear Waves and Radiation Force

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging finds wide and ever-increasing clinical use due to its low cost, lack of toxicity, and advances in signal processing power. While grayscale ultrasound imaging remains the clinical workhorse, developments in the ability of ultrasound to quantify tissue properties are increasing diagnostic capability. This talk will describe some ultrasound imaging techniques based on two properties: the ability of ultrasound to measure tissue displacements much smaller than a wavelength, and the acoustic radiation force phenomenon, which allows for the remote manipulation of tissues. We have exploited these properties to image implanted devices, quantify linear and non-linear tissue modulus, and estimate viscoelastic properties. Preliminary work on the application of acoustic radiation force and the elastic reciprocity theorem to image ultrasound attenuation will be described.

Biography: Dr. Stephen McAleavey is currently an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester. He received his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from that institution in 2002. His research focuses on methods of ultrasound imaging and tissue characterization. His work is especially focused on the use of shear waves, acoustic radiation force, and mechanical deformations to enhance imaging and obtain quantitative estimates of tissue properties.