Monday, September 25, 2023
Echocardiography allows clinicians to see not only the structure of the heart, but also its function, using ultrasound Doppler imaging to measure the blood flow in the heart. However, Doppler has a key weakness: it cannot measure the full 3-dimensional blood flow patterns in the heart, which may reveal early indications of various heart conditions.
Yichuang Han, a Medical Delta PhD candidate in the scientific program Medical Delta UltraHB: Ultrafast Ultrasound for the Heart and Brain, explores the possibilities offered by ultrafast ultrasound, a promising new ultrasound technology.
This interview is the eleventh in a series of interviews with PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers funded by Medical Delta. Yichuang's research is supported by the program Medical Delta UltraHB: Ultrafast Ultrasound for the Heart and Brain.
Yichuang’s research at Erasmus MC focuses on ultrasound technology that can reliably visualize the flow in the left heart chamber that pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Thanks to the technological advancement of ultrasound technology, it's possible to image the heart at thousands of frames per second, which allows Yichuang to track the flow of blood in the heart and overcome the downsides of traditional Doppler. "The ultimate goal is to create a new ultrasound tool for clinicians and scientists so that we can understand the complex interplay between blood flow in the heart and development of heart disease"
What are you researching, and how did you come to this research topic?
"I studied electrical engineering at Delft University of Technology, specializing in microwave sensing signals and systems. During my thesis research, I felt the need to delve deeper into the world of research. When the opportunity arose to participate in the Medical Delta program UltraHB, I didn't hesitate. Despite the differences between ultrasound research and electromagnetic waves, there are fundamental similarities in physics, especially in signal processing. Besides, I once had a dream of becoming a surgeon, but I ended up as an engineer. With this PhD research, I have the chance to combine both worlds."
With the help of ultrafast ultrasound, I want to detect heart conditions earlier and more efficiently
"Within the Medical Delta UltraHB research, I focus on the heart. My goal is to develop a method to visualize the left ventricular blood flow, potentially in 3D. This allows us to explore the link between heart conditions and their associated blood flow patterns and helps us understand pathophysiology, which can potentially benefit assessing medication effectiveness and guiding future treatment choices."
Photo: Guido Benschop
Photo: Guido Benschop
"Currently, MRI is the gold standard for measuring 3-dimensional blood flow in the heart. However, not only is this an extremely costly and time-consuming technique, but it’s also not feasible to use in all patients, for instance those with heart rhythm abnormalities. In many heart conditions, symptoms are only noticed when the heart is already severely affected."
"My aim is to use ultra-fast ultrasound to find diagnostic markers of heart conditions in the blood flow. Ultrasound can provide real-time imaging and is more accessible than an MRI-scanner. It doesn't require a large space for scanning, making it potentially more reachable, especially in densely populated areas, and likely greener because MRI-scans consume a lot of energy."
What is your personal motivation for conducting this research?
"For me, helping patients comes first. I believe that ultrasound research can offer an excellent alternative to MRI. This has the potential to shorten waiting lists in hospitals and reduce costs. I can even imagine that ultrafast ultrasound could be exported to developing countries in the future because it's a cost-efficient and energy-saving method for diagnosis."
"At the moment, I'm in the process of validating the obtained results. Together with Dr. Annemien van den Bosch, we are studying a group of patients with heart conditions and comparing the image results from ultrasound research with those of the conventional 'gold standard.' The research is ongoing, but so far, I can say that we are optimistic about the initial outcomes."
Collaboration is the key to success in my research
What new insights have you gained from collaborating with different scientific disciplines?
"My research is a synergy of various fields. First and foremost, we work with cardiologists and sonographers such as Annemien van den Bosch, Daniel Bowen and Alexander Hirsch to optimize our imaging protocols and obtain the ultrasound imaging data we need. From TU Delft, David Maresca, Nico de Jong and Martin Verweij support my project, as does Rick Waasdorp, the other Medical Delta PhD candidate within the Medical Delta program UltraHB. We also analyze our data in collaboration with clinicians and technical researchers, such as fluid dynamics specialists, so that we might unravel the complex blood flow phenomena we see in our data. Collaboration is the key to success for me and helps me better understand the research."
The previous interviewee, Margo Tuerlings, wants to know: How does collaboration help you in the future?
"I've learned that collaboration between different disciplines can initially seem complex, but in the end, you learn much more about your research than you initially expected.
I also want to advise the upcoming generation of Medical Delta researchers to talk regularly with their peers. They can not only help and support you with ideas and new perspectives for your research but also emotionally. They know how to support you when things aren't going well because they've had similar experiences, but they also know how to celebrate success when the research is going well."
