PhD Scholarship in Cardiac Vector Flow Ultrasound Imaging

A 3-year PhD scholarship is available at the Center for Fast Ultrasound Imaging (CFU), Department of Health Technology , DTU and at the Department of Cardiology, Rigshosptalet from summer 2022. It is conducted in collaboration between the two departments, and the overall purpose of the project is to further develop fast vector flow-based imaging of the heart and make it applicable for clinical use. 

Responsibilities and tasks

This PhD project develops a method for fast vector flow imaging on a Verasonics research scanner and determines its performance and applicability to cardiac diagnostics. 

The first objective is to develop a fast, synthetic aperture (SA) scheme suitable for cardiac vector flow imaging (VFI). This will be validated in the laboratory at CFU on an artificial heart phantom and calibrated flow rigs. The validation will be based on the CFU scan framework employed at CFU for the Verasonics scanner. Metrics such as peak velocity, mean velocity, volume flow, turbulence index, and pressure gradient estimation will be implemented and validated. 

The second objective is to develop a real time implementation of the approach based on GPU processing for the Verasonics scanner and a GE phased array probe. The system will include a touch screen interface suitable for the clinic, and the full data sets can be stored on the PC for further processing and optimization. Post review for the acquired data should also be possible. Finally, initial clinical studies with vector flow imaging in the heart will be conducted at Rigshospitalet to quantify flow patterns in normal hearts and cases with valve regurgitation. 

The research is conducted in a truly multi-disciplinary environment consisting of the  academic partners specializing in advanced ultrasound imaging at CFU and clinical investigations at Rigshospitalet, and the main purpose is to translate the SA VFI method from a research environment to the clinic. 

Qualifications

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. Experience with ultrasound imaging, GPU programming and digital signal processing is desirable. 

Application

To apply, please read the full job advertisement here: Positions at DTU Health Tech  

Application deadline: 11 April 2022 

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