Miniaturized high-frequency ultrasound imaging for oral health in head and neck diseases
Official title: A Miniaturized and High-frequency Acoustic Imaging System for Oral Health and Diseases of the Head and Neck
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11370038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, ultra-high-frequency ultrasound device will be developed and tested to image gums and teeth more clearly, helping people with periodontal disease and other mouth problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | June 21, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $602,262 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE031307-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with periodontal disease or other oral health conditions who could participate in ultrasound imaging studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without oral health concerns or those who cannot undergo ultrasound imaging may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a compact ultrasound transducer that can access back teeth and image tiny oral structures at very high frequencies. The team will partner with an industry collaborator and a clinical dentist to build, validate, and test the device in people, using photoacoustic imaging as an added capability. The work includes developing the small hockey-stick style probe, validating it in humans, and comparing its performance to traditional radiography. If successful, the technology could enable real-time, non-invasive mouth assessments that improve diagnosis and treatment planning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, non-invasive imaging of oral disease with better detail than standard X-rays.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed high-frequency ultrasound can image oral structures, but current devices are too large for posterior teeth; this project advances a smaller, higher-frequency solution.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jokerst, Jesse Vincent — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Jokerst, Jesse Vincent
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.