FEMMINA: advanced radio frequency ultrasonic platform for biomedical applications

The aim of this work is to present a novel apparatus for experimental activity in research of new methods for studying material and biological tissue with ultrasound. FEMMINA (fast echographic multiparametric multi imaging novel apparatus) is a hardware and software platform dedicated to ultrasonic signal and image processing. The FEMMINA platform is currently being employed to test the validity, in clinical environment, of a novel investigation method labeled RULES (radio frequency ultrasonic local estimators), based on radiofrequency echographic signal processing, able to extract local spectral parameters related to the organization and mechanical properties of investigated tissue. The results for breast tumor detection and characterization will be presented in this work. Furthermore RULES is employed, for prostate investigation, to localize pathological zones in order to guide the bioptic sampling. Preliminary results coming from carotid vessel plaque localization and differentiation will be also presented.