title: Using an ultrasound elasticity microscope to map three-dimensional strain in a porcine cornea.
abstract: An ultrasound elasticity microscope was used to map 3-D strain volume in an ex vivo porcine cornea to illustrate its ability to measure the mechanical properties of this tissue. Mechanical properties of the cornea play an important role in its function and, therefore, also in ophthalmic diseases such as kerataconus and corneal ectasia. The ultrasound elasticity microscope combines a tightly focused high-frequency transducer with confocal scanning to produce high-quality speckle over the entire volume of tissue. This system and the analysis were able to generate volume maps of compressional strain in all three directions for porcine corneal tissue, more information than any previous study has reported. Strain volume maps indicated features of the cornea and mechanical behavior as expected. These results constitute a step toward better understanding of corneal mechanics and better treatment of corneal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. kyle.hollman@soundsightresearch.com
authors.forename: Kyle W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hollman
authors.forename: Roni M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Shtein
authors.forename: Sakya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tripathy
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000502:physiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine
keywords: 3-D imaging; Cornea; Elasticity; High-frequency imaging; Keratoconus; Strain