The Photoacoustics & Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven, PULS/e, is part of the Cardiovascular Biomechanics group. The PULS/e lab was designed to facilitate the ongoing research on technology development (ultrasound imaging, photoacoustics) and applied science (US-based biomechanical modeling for improved clinical decision making). Ultrasound imaging has always been one of the main imaging modalities in the clinic. Currently, many advances and development in ultrasound imaging are being made.
The lab is fully equipped for development of new functional ultrasound imaging techniques, using both high-end clinical systems with open RF interfaces, but also research platforms, featuring a high-frequency Verasonics system and a fully integrated photoacoustics platform by ESAOTE and Quantel (FULLPHASE).
The lab also hosts advanced experimental mock loops for performing measurements of the mechanical properties of cardiovascular tissue under physiological circumstances and validation of strain imaging techniques, elastography, and vector flow velocity imaging. Moreover, the lab has access to the Laboratory for Biomechanics, where micro-CT and tensile testing equipment are available for validation purposes, and to the Laboratory for Cell & Tissue Engineering and the Microscopy Laboratory for histology. Validation is crucial in getting insight in the performance of new techniques, but also for benchmarking against existing methods, all to improve the acceptation into the clinic.
To catalyze introduction of new techniques into the clinic, a complete section of PULS/e is dedicated to in vivo measurements. Setups for acquisition in rest or in exercise are available, respecting both privacy and safety of the volunteers and/or patients. Custom setups for semi-3D scanning and measurements during exercise are available. The latter has led to the development of for reproducible and robust scanning of muscles during contraction.
Obviously, not all patients included in our ongoing clinical trials can visit our lab. Close collaboration exists with the following medical center, where several pilot and clinical trials are ongoing: Catharina Hospital Eindhoven (CZE), Maxima Medical Centre (MMC), University Hospital Brussel (UZB), University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU), University Medical Centre Maastricht (MUMC+), Wilhelmina Children Hospital (WKZ), and the Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen Medical Center (RUNMC).
List of equipment
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dr.ir. Lopata, R.G.P.
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dr.ir. Maenhout - van Haag, M.