Quantitative biomarkers for tissue characterization

Abstract

This research proposes and examines noninvasive, quantitative techniques to characterize tissue. The primary metrics investigated include estimation of longitudinal speed of sound and shearwave elastography. Additional metrics investigated include bioimpedance and functional tests specifically for muscle health quantification. Diagnosing and monitoring of health of muscle and liver tissue is the motivating clinical need. These proposed metrics and techniques are noninvasive, quantitative, and do not require calibration. Current standards of care for liver and muscle health include biopsy for liver and muscle or electromyography for muscle. Functional tests, also a gold standard for functional muscle health, are not as quantitative or robust as the metrics proposed here due to changes from patient type and mobility level. The metrics proposed here do not have the limitations as the current gold standards and can be applied robustly to patients for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease - making medicine more precise and personalized.