Ultrafast Ultrasound Imaging Grants Alternate Methods for Assessing Diaphragm Function

The diaphragm is the main respiratory muscle. Availability of accurate and noninvasive methods for the assessment of its function is critical. In this work, we propose two techniques based on plane wave imaging (PWI) and shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing diaphragm contractility. The first technique uses PWI to image short responses (~200 ms) evoked by artificial stimulation of the phrenic nerve(s). The second technique use SWE to monitor change in diaphragm stiffness during continuous ventilation and/or respiratory maneuvers. Preliminary results from experiments performed healthy participants are presented. Our data showed that SWE and PWI can provide a new opportunity for direct and non-invasive assessment of diaphragm function.