Kathryn Radabaugh Nightingale

Biomedical Engineering

Director of Graduate Studies, Theo Pilkington Distinguished Professor of BME

Kathryn Radabaugh Nightingale Profile Photo
Kathryn Radabaugh Nightingale Profile Photo

Research Themes

Biomechanics & Mechanobiology, Biomedical Imaging & Biophotonics

Research Interests

Ultrasonic and elasticity imaging; image-guided therapies; biomechanical tissue modeling; ultrasonic bioeffects.

Bio

The goals of our laboratory are to investigate and improve ultrasonic imaging methods for clinically-relevant problems. We do this through theoretical, experimental, and simulation methods. The main focus of our recent work is the development of novel, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI)-based elasticity imaging methods to generate images of the mechanical properties of tissue, involving interdisciplinary research in ultrasonics and tissue biomechanics. We have access to the engineering interfaces of several commercial ultrasound systems which allows us to design, rapidly prototype, and experimentally demonstrate custom sequences to explore novel beamforming and imaging concepts. We employ FEM modeling methods to simulate the behavior of tissues during mechanical excitation, and we have integrated these tools with ultrasonic imaging modeling tools to simulate the ARFI imaging process. We maintain strong collaborations with the Duke University Medical Center where we work to translate our technologies to clinical practice. The ARFI imaging technologies we have developed have served as the basis for commercial imaging technologies that are now being used in clinics throughout the world.  We are also studying the risks and benefits of increasing acoustic output energy for specific clinical imaging scenarios, with the goal of improving ultrasonic image quality in the difficult-to-image patient.

Education

  • B.S. Duke University, 1989
  • Ph.D. Duke University, 1997

Positions

  • Theo Pilkington Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
  • Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
  • Bass Fellow

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Joseph H. Holmes Basic Science Pioneer Award. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. 2022
  • Fellow (NAI). National Academy of Inventors. 2019
  • Lois and John L. Imhoff Distinguished Teaching Award. Pratt School of Engineering. 2018
  • Fellow. American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. 2016
  • Capers and Marion McDonald Teaching and Research Award. Pratt School of Engineering. 2015
  • Klein Family Distinguished Teaching Award. Pratt School of Engineering. 2007

Courses Taught

  • BME 845: Elasticity Imaging
  • BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 789: Internship in Biomedical Engineering
  • BME 729S: Teaching Seminar for Repeat Teaching Assistants
  • BME 728S: Teaching Seminar for New Teaching Assistants
  • BME 702S: BME Graduate Seminars
  • BME 701S: BME Graduate Seminars
  • BME 542: Principles of Ultrasound Imaging (GE, IM)
  • BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 493-1: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
  • BME 354L: Introduction to Medical Instrumentation

Publications

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