Three Dimensional Ultrasonic Micrometer For Use In Cardiovascular Research

Abstract

Obtaining dimensional or coordinate information of moving biological struc~ often presents technical problems. The need for making high resolution, non-destructive measmments of tissues functioning in vivo leave few tools available to the researcher. We are currently testing a three dimensional ultrasonic micrometer that will be used to provide morphometxic data on the functioning aortic valve in an isolated porcine heart model. Preliminary results indicate that a theoretical 62.5 pm spatial resolution is achievable, within a sample volume 8 cm on a side, at rates in excess of 5 kHz.