Contact Info

Stephen A. McAleavey, Ph.D Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Rochester work Box 270168 Rochester, NY 14627-0168 office: Goergen 309 p +1-585-275-7768 f +1-585-276-1999

Recent Publications

    • McAleavey SA
    • Menon M
    • Orszulak J
    (2007 Aug 07). Shear-modulus estimation by application of spatially-modulated impulsive acoustic radiation force. Ultrason Imaging. 29, 87-104.
    • Palmeri ML
    • McAleavey SA
    • Fong KL
    • Trahey GE
    • Nightingale KR
    (2006 Nov 09). Dynamic mechanical response of elastic spherical inclusions to impulsive acoustic radiation force excitation. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 53, 2065-79.
    • Dahl JJ
    • McAleavey SA
    • Pinton GF
    • Soo MS
    • Trahey GE
    (2006 Oct 12). Adaptive imaging on a diagnostic ultrasound scanner at quasi real-time rates. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 53, 1832-43.
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Graduate Students

Stephen McAleavey

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  • Assistant Professor

    • Biomedical Engineering

Research Overview

The development of novel, clinically applicable ultrasound imaging techniques is the primary goal of our laboratory's research. We are particularly interested in the use of motion-tracking techniques to enhance the contrast of ultrasound images. Motion of tissues, both physiological and artificial, can reveal the differences in tissue stiffness and type, as well as the presence of implanted devices. Furthermore, detection and tracking of tissue motion can guide the delivery of therapeutic agents. The interaction of ultrasound with tissue, statistical properties of ultrasound echoes and signal processing techniques are the topics we study in order to achieve these goals.

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging is one technique we are investigating. ARFI imaging uses short (<0.1ms) bursts of ultrasound to induce small but measurable (2-20 microns) displacements in tissue. The response of the tissue to this impulsive excitation is determined by material properties. By measuring this response we produce images with contrast not present in ordinary ultrasound images (B-scans).

Magnetically induced vibration of brachytherapy seeds, combined with ultrasonic motion tracking, allows us to produce high contrast images of brachytherapy seeds embedded in tissue. Brachytherapy seeds are ordinarily difficult to image with ultrasound, and their accurate placement is necessary for effective therapy. Our magnetically induced motion imaging (MIMI) technique could serve as an enabling technology for real-time treatment planning of prostate brachytherapy.