Using material elasticity and electron density in multi-modality imaging*

Ultrasound imaging is a common modality in clinical settings, used for its non-destructive, low-cost, and non-invasive properties. However, it has limited resolution for deep imaging. X-ray imaging is used to achieve these high-resolution images at great depth throughout the body but must be used sparingly so as to avoid ionizing biological tissue. Using low-dose x-ray imaging to determine properties of the target, especially in creating preliminary mass density maps, improves the diagnostic potential of ultrasound imaging. Recent advances in spectra X-ray imaging have allowed accurate electron density maps of objects to be yielded. This tomographic electron density information can be explored in conjunction with 3D ultrasound techniques which yields a map of the object’s elasticity. Mass density maps can also deliver verifying information about the compressibility of different objects by deriving Young’s modulus. We will test these ideas via preliminary studies using tissue-mimicking phantoms.