Inova Ultrasound Pelvic Floor Imaging and Therapeutics is a multidisciplinary translational research collaborative designed to advance the science and technology of ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound can non-invasively image structural, mechanical, compositional, and functional features of biological tissues. UPFIT’s goal is to merge discoveries in ultrasound-based pelvic floor imaging with Inova Women Integrated Research Center’s (WHIRC’s) and Inova Translational Medicine Institute’s (ITMI’s) “omics” capabilities with the goal of 1) elucidating pathophysiology of pelvic floor disorders, and 2) introducing innovative interventions for pelvic floor disorders into clinical practice. (For further description of WHIRC and ITMI, please see below).
Led by S. Abbas Shobeiri, MD, the Vice Chair for gynecologic subspecialties and a urogynecologist, UPFIT’s members are primarily engaged in the development and application of ultrasound methodologies for better assessment of pelvic floor conditions as it relates to pregnancy, childbirth, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary or fecal incontinence, painful bladder syndrome, and spasmodic pelvic floor muscles. The group has investigated the utility of endoluminal imaging, intraoperative pelvic floor ultrasonography, companion diagnostics which may offer promising methods for delivering targeted drug or gene therapy.
Inova Pelvic Floor Equipment:
- Two BK Ultrasound Flex Focus 500 machines with 8838 and 2202 probes and 3D package
- Supersonic Aixplorer ultrasound system that has the capability for shear wave elastography imaging and ultrafast Doppler imaging. Two linear array transducers (4-15 MHz, and 2-10 MHz) are available with the system (order placed).
- Medtronics 3D Anal / Pelvic floor high resolution Manoscan
- Laborie full urodynamics suite with EMG and Manometry capability
- Cystoscopy equipment
UPFIT at George Mason University:
We have a unique collaborative relationship with imaging scientists at George Mason University’s Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies. Siddhartha Sidkar, PhD investigates Shear Wave Imaging (SWI) and Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging (UEI) in myofascial trigger points. Parag Chitnis, PhD investigates ultrasound Thermal Strain Imaging (TSI), medical ultrasonics drug delivery and photoacoustics. Qi Wei, PhD focuses on developing and applying computational models to study musculoskeletal disorders. The ultrasound imaging techniques are also applied in monitoring engineered tissue constructs and finite element modeling. Dr. Shobeiri investigates rapid sequence endoluminal pelvic floor imaging, Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging (UEI), evaluation of levator ani deficiency and stem cell bulking agents.
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