Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging Laboratory at Columbia University

What Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging Laboratory at Columbia University does

The Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory (UEIL) is an academic research laboratory housed within Columbia University's Department of Biomedical Engineering and physically located at the Columbia University Medical Center within New York Presbyterian Hospital. Under the direction of Prof. Elisa Konofagou (Robert and Margaret Hariri Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Radiology), UEIL develops novel ultrasound-based imaging and therapeutic techniques applied to cardiovascular disease detection, neurological drug delivery, cancer treatment monitoring, and non-invasive neuromodulation. The lab's outputs are research methodologies and integrated imaging systems validated through clinical trials, not commercial products.

UEIL's research portfolio comprises six core methodologies: (1) blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening with focused ultrasound and microbubbles for targeted brain drug delivery, including ongoing Phase 1 trials in Alzheimer's disease and pediatric diffuse midline glioma; (2) Electromechanical Wave Imaging (EWI) for non-invasive, real-time mapping of cardiac electromechanical activity across all four chambers; (3) Harmonic Motion Imaging (HMI) for tissue elasticity characterization and real-time monitoring of focused ultrasound ablation; (4) Myocardial Elastography for early cardiovascular disease detection via strain-based analysis of natural contraction; (5) Neuromodulation via high-intensity focused ultrasound as a non-invasive alternative to electrode-based stimulation; and (6) Pulse Wave Imaging (PWI) for non-invasive arterial stiffness and vascular disease mapping. The lab has also engineered integrated systems including a 3-D handheld HMI system for breast tumor assessment (clinical feasibility 2026) and an HMI-guided focused ultrasound (HMIgFUS) system for clinical breast cancer ablation, supported by deep learning and physics-informed neural network approaches for automated lesion quantification and arterial wall characterization.

UEIL operates on a grant-funded academic revenue model: it does not sell products or services commercially. Funding flows from competitive federal grants (NSF, NIH, AHA), foundation awards (Blavatnik Family Foundation, Focused Ultrasound Foundation, American Heart Association, Spanish Ministry, Brazilian Physical Society), and institutional support from Columbia University. Go-to-market is collaboration-based, with primary clinical translation partner New York Presbyterian Hospital providing patient cohorts for trials and access to clinical infrastructure. Distribution of findings occurs through 47+ peer-reviewed publications spanning 2002 to 2026 in journals including Nature, Science Translational Medicine, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, and Communications Engineering, plus conference presentations at IEEE IUS, ISTU, ASA, and Gordon Research Conferences. Technology transfer to medical device companies via licensing is a stated commercial pathway but no specific deals are disclosed.

Name

Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging Laboratory at Columbia University

Legal name

Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory (UEIL) at Columbia University

Website

https://ueil.bme.columbia.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory (UEIL) at Columbia University, led by Prof. Elisa Konofagou, develops novel ultrasound-based imaging and therapeutic techniques for non-invasive cardiovascular, oncological, and neurological applications, conducting clinical trials at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Research & Ultrasound Imaging

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Ultrasound & Echography Systems (HLAHABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging (Echo/CT/MRI/Nuclear) (HLAKABAE), Intraoperative Imaging & Guidance (C-arms, O-arm, IOUS, fluorescence) (HLAHADAH), Hemodynamic Monitoring & Cardiac Diagnostics (Cath Lab, FFR/IVUS/OCT) (HLAHAFAI)

Keywords

• Ultrasound elasticity imaging
• Focused ultrasound therapy
• Biomedical engineering research
• Cardiovascular imaging techniques
• Blood-brain barrier opening

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Fellowships: Academic laboratory funded through research grants from government agencies (NSF, NIH, AHA), foundation awards, and institutional support. Revenue supports laboratory operations, personnel, equipment, and clinical trial conduct.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Academic research laboratory developing novel ultrasound-based imaging and therapeutic techniques for diagnostic and interventional medical applications. Core methodologies include blood-brain barrier opening for targeted drug delivery, electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) for cardiac arrhythmia mapping, harmonic motion imaging (HMI) for tumor characterization and focused ultrasound monitoring, myocardial elastography, neuromodulation, and pulse wave imaging (PWI) for vascular disease detection.

Product overview

The Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory (UEIL) at Columbia University operates as an academic research laboratory developing novel ultrasound-based imaging and therapeutic techniques. The lab's portfolio consists of six core research methodologies: Blood-Brain Barrier Opening, Electromechanical Wave Imaging, Harmonic Motion Imaging, Myocardial Elastography, Neuromodulation, and Pulse Wave Imaging. These research techniques are applied to cardiovascular diagnostics, cancer treatment monitoring, and neurological disorder therapy. The lab has also developed integrated imaging systems including a 3-D Handheld Harmonic Motion Imaging System for breast tumor assessment and an Integrated Harmonic Motion Imaging-Guided Focused Ultrasound (HMIgFUS) System for clinical breast cancer ablation monitoring. The research combines ultrasound imaging, AI/machine learning approaches, and focused ultrasound therapy for non-invasive medical applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blood-Brain Barrier Opening (BBB Opening) Focused ultrasound research methodology combined with microbubbles to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, enabling targeted drug delivery to the brain for treatment of neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Currently in active Phase 1 clinical trials at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
• Electromechanical Wave Imaging (EWI) Ultrasound-based imaging research methodology that maps electromechanical activity in all four heart chambers at high spatial and temporal resolution for non-invasive arrhythmia diagnosis and treatment planning. Supported by American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship.
• Harmonic Motion Imaging (HMI) Ultrasound research technique that induces dynamic tissue vibrations internally for tissue elasticity characterization, enabling detection of cancerous tissues and real-time monitoring of focused ultrasound surgery (FUS) ablation therapy. Includes integrated HMI-guided Focused Ultrasound (HMIgFUS) system for breast cancer ablation and 3D handheld system for breast tumor assessment.
• Myocardial Elastography Ultrasound-based research methodology for early detection of cardiovascular disease through measurement of altered mechanical properties of the heart muscle using displacement and strain analysis based on natural cardiac contraction.
• Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation Focused ultrasound research technique for modulating neural activity in the central and peripheral nervous system, offering non-invasive neuromodulation as an alternative to electrode implantation. Includes multi-modal transcranial functional ultrasound imaging research.
• Pulse Wave Imaging (PWI) Ultrasound-based research methodology quantifying arterial wall mechanics and blood flow dynamics using high temporal and spatial resolution to enable early detection and non-invasive mapping of vascular diseases including carotid atherosclerosis and hypertension. Incorporates physics-informed neural networks for assessing arterial wall stiffness.

Quantifiable outcome

• Christina Proestaki received American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship for 'Real-Time Electromechanical Wave Imaging for Non-Invasive Intraoperative Arrhythmia Diagnosis'
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New York Presbyterian HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive clinical collaboration for conducting multiple clinical trials using focused ultrasound techniques. The lab conducts clinical studies at the hospital for evaluating ultrasound-based diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.
• Columbia University Department of Biomedical EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UEIL is part of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. Host institution providing academic infrastructure, faculty appointments, and administrative support.
• Columbia University Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research facility where lab is located. Houses research laboratories and provides access to clinical facilities for research.
• Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Konofagou carried out postdoctoral work at Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard affiliate) in elasticity-based monitoring of focused ultrasound therapy. Historical academic connection.
• Gordon Research ConferencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLab members present research and receive recognition at Gordon Research Conferences and Seminars.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• INSIGHTEC: Commercial leader in MR-guided focused ultrasound, including approved indications for essential tremor and Parkinson's, and active research in blood-brain barrier opening for neuro-drug delivery — directly comparable to UEIL's BBB-opening and focused-ultrasound therapeutic programs.
• Profound Medical: Commercializes TULSA-PRO, an MRI-guided focused ultrasound system for prostate tissue ablation. Comparable to UEIL's image-guided focused-ultrasound ablation work (e.g., HMIgFUS breast system).
• HistoSonics: Develops histotripsy, a non-thermal focused-ultrasound tissue-destruction platform, with FDA clearance for liver indications. Directly competes with UEIL's focused-ultrasound ablation research.
• EDAP TMS: Commercializes High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for prostate cancer and other indications — a direct analogue of UEIL's therapeutic ultrasound work.
• Theraclion: European company developing HIFU platforms for thyroid, breast fibroadenoma, and varicose veins — overlapping with UEIL's breast and vascular focused-ultrasound research.

Emerging players

• BrainSonix: Focused on transcranial focused ultrasound for BBB opening and neuromodulation — directly comparable to UEIL's BBB-opening and neuromodulation programs, but at an earlier commercial stage.
• EchoNous: Develops AI-enabled handheld point-of-care ultrasound devices, comparable to UEIL's 3-D handheld HMI system for breast tumor assessment and the broader AI/ultrasound integration thesis.

Broad incumbents

• GE HealthCare: Global incumbent in medical imaging including a large ultrasound franchise (LOGIQ, Vivid). Comparable to UEIL's cardiac (EWI, ME) and general ultrasound imaging work as a broad incumbent rather than a niche specialist.
• Siemens Healthineers: Major medical imaging incumbent with a significant ultrasound business (ACUSON). Comparable as a broad incumbent whose cardiac and general ultrasound offerings overlap with UEIL's imaging research areas.

Others

• Focused Ultrasound Foundation: Non-profit dedicated to accelerating development of focused-ultrasound technologies. Functions as the leading ecosystem convener for the same therapeutic-ultrasound field where UEIL operates its research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/columbiaueil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging Laboratory at Columbia University