Developing realistic placental blood vessel virtual phantoms for optimisation of ultrasound scans

About the project

About the Project Doppler ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool in the field of obstetrics allowing for clinicians to assess haemodynamics of the placenta during pregnancy. Monitoring placental circulation is essential for understanding fetal development and detecting complications such as fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia, which can have serious consequences for both mother and baby. Developing anatomical virtual phantom blood vessels and cardiovascular systems will help interpret ultrasound in pregnancy, and potentially develop new ultrasound technology. We have developed in silico models of the placenta over the last decade, which could help to do this. However, we now need to create virtual ultrasounds, which represent both the fluid dynamics of placental blood flow and the properties of ultrasound scatterers to create virtual phantoms. These phantoms will be validated against physical phantoms that exhibit similar acoustic properties to the human body. Together, this work will provide a pathway to optimise and refine Doppler ultrasound usage for pregnancy. This project will focus on developing phantom anatomical blood vessels to numerically simulate placental blood flow and ultrasound images for a Doppler ultrasound experiment. This work offers a unique opportunity to contribute to pregnancy-related research by advancing tools for studying placental blood flow, with implications for improving maternal and fetal health diagnostics. Desired skills Instrumentation skills (Putting together mechatronic systems) Experimental skills (Planning and designing experiments) Some familiarity with cell biology & physiology Willingness to overcome problems and work with others on an scientific adventure Contact and supervisors For more information or to apply for this project, please follow the link to the supervisors below: Contact/main supervisor Alys Clark Supporting supervisor Sahan Jayatissa Eligible for funding This project is eligible for funding but is subject to eligibility criteria & funding availability. Want to know what our students think about studying at the ABI? Watch this video! The Auckland Bioengineering Institute - breaking boundaries in bioengineering for more than 20 years At the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI), we apply engineering and technical innovation to advancing medical care, human capability, and understanding of human physiology. Our team of world-renowned researchers are working on everything from artificial intelligence avatars, to implantable devices, to digital models of the human body. Our focus on research excellence and commercialisation adds value to society and to the global economy. Our research makes a real difference in the world. We’ve designed sensors to diagnose stomach disease without needing invasive surgery; developed a tiny wireless implantable device to measure brain pressure and save the lives of children with hydrocephalus; and we lead the world in building digital models of the human body which will enhance personalised medicine approaches for improved diagnosis and treatment. Join our team of researchers for a postgraduate degree and together we can make a difference. Our graduates are amongst the most employable in the world - many either continue their career in research, find employment with industry leaders such as Rocket Lab or Fisher & Paykel, or launch their own startup companies. Our students come from over 50 different countries and a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, including Engineering, Medicine, Mathematics and Science.

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