Methods of monitoring cellular death using low frequency ultrasound

A method of detecting cellular damage within a subject, comprising:

• exposing a selected site within the subject to a stress capable of causing cellular damage;
• obtaining data from the exposed selected site using an ultrasound imaging system, wherein the obtaining of data comprises transmitting ultrasound having a frequency of 20 megahertz (MHz) or below into the selected site;
• and
• comparing the obtained data to control data to detect cellular damage wherein a modulation of the received backscattered data from the selected site compared to the control data indicates cellular damage within the subject.

A method of detecting cellular damage within a subject, comprising:

• obtaining a first ultrasound image of a selected site within the subject using low frequency ultrasound;
• exposing the selected site to a stress capable of causing cellular damage;
• obtaining a second ultrasound image of the exposed selected site using low frequency ultrasound;
• and
• comparing the first image to the second image to detect cellular damage at the selected site, wherein the low frequency ultrasound has a frequency of 20 megahertz (MHz) or below.

A method of detecting cellular damage within a subject, comprising:

• obtaining pre-exposure ultrasound backscatter data from a selected site within the subject;
• exposing the selected site to a stress capable of causing cellular damage;
• obtaining post-exposure ultrasound backscatter data from the exposed selected site;
• and
• comparing the pre-exposure data to the post-exposure data to detect cellular damage at the selected site, wherein the pre-exposure and post exposure ultrasound backscatter data comprises data backscattered from ultrasound transmitted into the subject having a frequency of 20 megahertz (MHz) or below, wherein a modulation of the received backscattered data from the selected site compared to the control data indicates cellular damage within the subject.

A method of detecting cellular damage, comprising:

• transmitting ultrasound having a frequency of 20 MHz or below into a cell;
• receiving radio-frequency (RF) data from the cell;
• processing the received RF data to provide spectral data;
• and
• analyzing the spectral data to detect cellular damage.

A method of detecting cellular damage in a subject, comprising:

• transmitting ultrasound having a frequency of 20 MHz or below into a cell located within the subject;
• receiving backscattered data from the cell;
• and
• analyzing the received backscattered data to indicate the detection of cellular damage, wherein a modulation of the received backscattered data from the cell compared to control data indicates cellular damage within the subject.

A method of monitoring a therapeutic regimen within a subject, comprising:

• administering to the subject a therapeutic agent capable of causing cellular damage at a selected site within the subject;
• transmitting ultrasound having a frequency of 20 megahertz (MHz) or below into the selected site within the subject;
• receiving at least a portion of backscattered data from the ultrasound transmitted into the selected site;
• and
• comparing the received backscattered data to a control backscatter measurement, wherein an increase in the received backscattered data when compared to the control backscatter measurement indicates cellular damage at the selected site within the subject.

A method of monitoring a therapeutic regimen within a subject, comprising:

• administering to the subject a therapeutic agent capable of causing cellular damage at a selected site within the subject;
• transmitting low frequency ultrasound having a frequency of 20 megahertz (MHz) into the selected site within the subject;
• receiving at least a portion of backscattered data from the ultrasound transmitted into the selected site;
• and
• comparing a spectral slope of the received backscattered data to a control spectral slope backscatter measurement, wherein a modulation in the spectral slope of the received backscattered data as compared to the control spectral slope backscatter measurement indicates cellular damage at the selected site within the subject.

A method of monitoring cellular damage within a subject, comprising:

• transmitting ultrasound having a frequency of 20 megahertz or below into a selected site within the subject, wherein the selected site has been exposed to a stress capable of causing cellular damage at the selected site;
• receiving at least a portion of backscattered data from the ultrasound transmitted into the selected site;
• determining a statistic of the envelope of the received backscattered data;
• and
• comparing the determined statistic to a control, wherein an increase or a decrease of the determined signal statistic when compared to a corresponding signal statistic of the control indicates cellular damage at the selected site within the subject.