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© 2002-2006
Haim Azhari, D.Sc.
Associate Professor

E-mail: haim@bm.technion.ac.il
Homepage: www.bm.technion.ac.il/~haim
Office phone: 04-8294145
Office Room: 266
Office hours:  Sun 14:00 - 16:00

B.Sc. 1977 Mechanical Engineering. Technion-IIT

M.Sc. 1984 Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University

D.Sc. 1987 Biomedical Engineering, Technion-IIT
Field of research:
Medical imaging: Application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, in medical imaging. Algorithms and methods for image reconstruction. Image processing and information extraction from medical images. Implementation of medical imaging for ge
About:

Dr. Haim Azhari, was born in Jerusalem, Israel in 1955. He received his B.Sc in Mechanical Eng. from the Technion in 1977, his M.Sc. (Cum Laude) in Biomedical Eng. from Tel-Aviv University 1984, and his D.Sc. in Biomedical Eng. from The Technion in 1987.  From 1987 to 1990 he was on the staff of the Technion Department of Biomedical Engineering in a postdoctoral position. Dr. Azhari then received a double appointment as an International Research Fellow in both the Department of Radiology and the Division of Cardiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore Maryland USA, and was in the USA from 1990 to 1992. On his return in 1992 he was appointed Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Engineering Technion-IIT. From 1999-2000 he was on a Sabbatical leave at Harvard Medical School at Beth-Israel radiology department at Boston Massachusetts. His Field of research is Medical imaging, which includes: Application of ultrasound and MRI in medical imaging. Image tomographic reconstruction. Image processing and information extraction from medical images.

Dr. Azhari is the laboratory coordinator of the Medical Imaging Laboratory located in the Heart System Research Institute.

Research interests:
  • Medical imaging, generation of tomographic images , Magentic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasound.
  • Application of ultrasound and MRI in biomedical engineering
  • Information extraction from medical images

    • Research Focus

    New imaging techniques and algorithms in ultrasound and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are being developed to produce images of the internal anatomy and/or physiology of the human body. We are investigating the use of ultrasound and MR for medical imaging and biomedical engineering, for information processing in medical imaging and for physiological analysis of the cardiovascular system. Our ultrasonic tomography research is focused on the early detection of breast cancer as it has been proved that early detection significantly improves the chances of curing this disease. Furthermore, in order to avoid the use of x-rays and provide a complement modality to mammography, we have developed a new volumetric technique for breast imaging in 3D for use in mass screening for the early detection of breast cancer. Our MRI research is focused mainly on the development of rapid MRI imaging techniques. As rapid image acquisition is required for monitoring dynamic physiological changes, such as cardiac contraction and vascular flow/perfusion, we aim to provide imaging techniques that might serve as tools for cardiac diagnosis, and 3D analysis. We have also studied the effects that metallic stents might have on image formation. The image analysis research program has led to the development of an automatic method for the analysis of intravascular ultrasonic (IVUS) images. And we are also involved in an ongoing research, in collaboration with Tel-Hashomer Medical Center, for the development of an automated analysis of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) lesion burden.

    Selected publications:

    Refereed Papers in Professional Journals

     

    ·       Azhari H, Sideman S, Beyar R, Grenadier E, Dinnar U: An analytical descriptor of three-dimensional geometry: Application to the analysis of the left ventricle shape and contraction.  IEEE Trans. on Biomed. Eng. 34(5):345-355, 1987.

     

    ·       Sideman S, Beyar R, Azhari H, Barta E, Adam D, Dinnar U: Three dimensional computer simulation of the cardiac system.  In: Proc. of the IEEE 76(6): 706-719, 1988.

     

    ·       Grenadier E, Azhari H, Beyar R, Dinnar U, Markiewicz W, Sideman S: Echocardiographic determination of left ventricular stroke volume index: Comparison to three-dimensional computer reconstruction.  J. of Cardiovasc. Tech.  8(1):5-14, 1989.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Grenadier E, Dinnar U, Beyar R, Adam D, Marcus ML, Sideman S: Quantitative characterization and sorting of three-dimensional geometries: ­Appli­cation to left ventricles in-vivo. IEEE Trans. on Biomed. Eng. 36(3):322-332, 1989.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Sideman S, Weiss JL, Shapiro EP, Weisfeldt ML, Graves WL, Rogers WJ, Beyar R: Three dimensional mapping of acute ischemic regions using MRI: wall thickening versus motion analysis.  Am. J. Physiol. 259:H1492-H1503, 1990.

     

    ·       Halmann H, Sideman S, Azhari H, Markiewicz W, Beyar R: Dynamic analysis of left ventricular shape based on curvature function. Basic Res. in Cardiol. 86:393-401, 1991.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Gath I, Beyar R, Marcus ML, Sideman S: Discrimination between healthy and diseased hearts by spectral decomposition of their left ventricular three dimensional geometry.  IEEE Trans. Medical Imaging 10(2): 207-215, 1991.

     

    ·       Lessick J, Sideman S, Azhari H, Marcus, M, Grenadier E, Beyar R: Regional 3D geometry and function of left ventricles with fibrous aneurysms: a Cine-CT study. Circulation 84:1072-1086, 1991.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Buchalter M, Sideman S, Shapiro E, Beyar R: A conical model to describe the non-uniformity of the left ventricular twisting motion. Ann. Biomed. Eng.  20:149-165, 1992.

     

    ·       Lessick J, Sideman S, Azhari H, Shapiro E, Beyar R:  Evaluation of regional load in acute ischemia by three dimensional curvatures analysis of the left ventricle. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 21:147-161, 1993.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Weiss JL, Rogers WJ, Siu C, Zerhouni EA, Shapiro EP: Non-invasive quantification of principal strains in normal canine hearts using tagged MRI images in 3D. Am. J. Physiol. 264(Heart Circ. Physiol. 33): H205-H216, 1993.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Weiss JL, Rogers WJ, Siu C, Shapiro EP:  A Non-invasive comparative study of myocardial strains in ischemic canine hearts using tagged MRI in 3D. Am. J. Physiol. 268 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 37): H1918-H1926, 1995.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Oliker S, Rogers WJ, Weiss JL, Shapiro EP: Three dimensional mapping of acute ischemic regions using Artificial neural networks and Tagged MRI. IEEE Trans. on Biomed. Eng. 43(6): 619-626, 1996.

     

    ·       MacGowan GA, Burkhoff D, Rogers WJ, Salvador D, Azhari H, Hees PS, Zweier JL, Halperin HR, Siu CO, Lima JAC, Weiss JL, Shapiro EP:  Effects of afterload on regional left ventricular torsion. Cardiovasc. Res. 31: 917-925, 1996.

     

    ·       Lessick J, Fisher Y, Beyar R, Sideman S, Marcus M, Azhari H.: Regional three-dimensional geometry of the normal human left ventricle using Cine-CT. Ann. of Biomed. Eng. 24: 583-594, 1996.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Denisova OE, Montag A, Shapiro ED: Circular sampling: Perspective of a time-saving scanning procedure. Magnetic Resonance Imaging 14(6): 625-632, 1996.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Stolarski S: Hybrid ultrasonic computed tomography.  Computers and Biomedical Research, 30: 35-48, 1997.

     

    ·       Blizhevsky A, Azhari H, Gaitini D, Dinnar U: Pattern analysis of temporal changes in the carotid artery diameter under normal and pathological conditions. Medical Engineering and Physics, 19: 352-358, 1997.

     

    ·       Danisova OE, Shapiro EP, Weiss JL, Azhari H: Localization of ischemia in canine hearts using tagged rotated long axis images. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 15(9):1037-1043, 1997.

     

    ·       Loshakov A, Azhari H:  Mathematical formulation for computing the performance of self  expanding helical stents. Int. J. of Med. Informatics 44: 127-133, 1997.

     

    ·       McGowan GA, Shapiro EP, Azhari H, Siu CO, Hees PS, Grover MH, Wiess JL Rademakers FE: Noninvasive measurement of shortening in the normal human left ventricle and in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Circulation 96: 535-541, 1997.

     

    ·       Goldberg-Zimring D, Achiron A, Miron S, Faibel M, Azhari H: Automated detection and characterization of multiple sclerosis lesions in brain MR images. Magnetic Resonance Imaging 16(3):311-318, 1998.

     

    • Berdugo B, Doron MA, Rosenhouse J, Azhari H: On direction finding of an emitting source from time delays. Journal of the Acoustics Society of America (JASA), 105(6),  pp. 3355-3363, 1999.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Beyar R, Sideman S: On the human left ventricular shape. Computers and Biomedical Research, 32(3), pp.264-282, 1999.

     

    ·       Petrank YF; Azhari H; Lessick J; Sideman S; Beyar R. Effect of aneurysmectomy on left ventricular shape and function: case studies. Med. Eng. Phys. 21(8): 547-54. 1999.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Sazbon D: Volumetric imaging using spiral ultrasonic computed tomography. Radiology, Vol. 212(1), pp. 270-275, 1999.

     

    ·       Kovalski G, Beyar R, Shofti R, Azhari H: Three Dimensional Automatic Quantitative Analysis of Intra-Vascular Ultrasonic Images. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 26(4), pp.527-537, 2000.

     

    ·       Goldberg-Zimring D, Azhari H, Miron S,  Achiron A. 3-D Surface Reconstruction of Multiple Sclerosis Lesions using Spherical Harmonics. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Vol. 46, pp.756-766, 2001.

     

    ·       Azhari H, McKenzie CA, Edelman RR. MR Angiography Using Spinlock Flow Tagging. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 46:1041-1044, 2001.

     

          ·       Berdugo B, Rosenhouse J, Azhari H: Multispeaker direction finding using estimated time delays in the frequency domain, Signal Processing, 82(1), pp.19-30, 2002.

     

    ·       Bronstein MM, Bronstein AM, Zibulevsky M and Azhari H, Reconstruction in Diffraction Ultrasound Tomography Using Non-Uniform FFT, IEEE Transactions On Medical Imaging, 21(11), pp.1395-1401, Nov. 2002.

     

    ·       Azhari H, Sodickson DK, Edelman RR. Rapid MR Imaging by Sensitivity Profile Indexing and Deconvolution Reconstruction (SPID). Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Vol 21(6), pp. 575-584, 2003.

     

    ·       Goldberg-Zimring D, Achiron A, Guttmann CRG, Azhari H: “3-D Analysis of Individual Multiple Sclerosis Lesions’ Geometry: Detection of Shape Changes Over Time Using Spherical Harmonics”, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 18(3), pp.291-301, 2003.

     

    • Azhari H, Rosenthal S, Montag A. Implementation of Helical Computed Tomography in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 18(4), pp.478-486, 2003.

          ·       Kochavi E, Goldsher D, Azhari H: Real Time MRI Needle Tracking. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 51,pp1083-1087, 2004.

     

    • Goldberg-Zimring D, Achiron A, Warfield SK, Guttmann CRG, Azhari H: Application of spherical harmonics derived space rotation invariant indices to the analysis of multiple sclerosis lesions' geometry by MRI. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 22, pp.815-825, 2004. 

    ·       Diana Gaitini,  Yakov Baruch, Edward Ghersin, Ella Waissman, Hedvika Kerner, Bruria Shalem,Geva Yaniv, Chen Sarfaty, and Haim Azhari:  Feasibility study of ultrasonic fatty liver biopsy- Texture vs. attenuation and backscatter. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. 30(10):pp.1321-1327, 2004.

     

    • Avshalom  Shenhav  and Haim Azhari: Gradient Field Switching As A Source For Artifacts In MR Imaging of Metallic Stents. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 52(6): pp.1465-1468, 2004.

     

    • Goldberg-Zimring D, Shalmon B, Zou KH, Azhari H, Nass D, Achiron A: Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis Lesions by Spherical Harmonics: Comparison of MR Imaing and Pathology. Radiology, 235: pp.1036-1044, 2005.

     

    • D. Gaitini, M. Lederman, Y. Baruch, E. Ghersin, E. Veitsman, H. Kerner, B. Shalem, G.  Yaniv, C. Sarfaty, H. Azhari: Computerised Analysis of Liver Texture with Correlation to Needle Biopsy.  Ultrasound in Medicine (Ultraschall in Med), 26:  pp.1–6, 2005.

     

    • Kennedy JA, Israel O, Frenkel A, Bar-Shalom R, Azhari H, “Super-resolution in PET imaging”. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, 25(2):pp.137-147, 2006.

    • Yoav Levy, Yehuda Agnon and Haim Azhari: “Measurement of Speed of Sound Dispersion in Soft Tissues Using a Double Frequency Continuous Wave Method”, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 32(7): pp.1065-1071, 2006.

    • J.A. Kennedy, O. Israel, A. Frenkel, R. Bar-Shalom, and H. Azhari, “A Hybrid Algorithm for PET/CT Image Merger in Hybrid Scanners”. Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Imaging, vol. 34, no. 4, 517-531, 2007.

     

    • Yoav Levy and Haim Azhari: “Velocity Measurements Using a Single Transmitted Linear Frequency Modulated Chirp”, Ultrasound in Med. & Biol., Vol. 33, No. 5, pp. 768–773, 2007

     ·       John A. Kennedy, Ora Israel, Alex Frenkel, Rachel Bar-Shalom, and Haim Azhari: “Improved Image Fusion in PET/CT Using Hybrid Image Reconstruction and Super-Resolution,” International Journal of Biomedical Imaging, vol. 2007, Article ID 46846,             doi:10.1155/2007/46846, 10 pages, 2007.

    • Yoav Levy, Yehuda Agnon and Haim Azhari: “Ultrasonic Speed of Sound Dispersion Imaging”, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Volume 33, Issue 5, Pages 762-767, May 2007.

     

    • Kovalski, Gil, Attia Shai, Israel, Ora, Keidar Zohar Azhari  Haim: " Correction of Heart Motion due to Respiration in Clinical Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Scans Using Respiratory Gating", The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 48(4):630-636, 2007.

     

    • John A. Kennedy, Ora Israel, Alex Frenkel, Rachel Bar-Shalom, Haim Azhari: “The             reduction of artifacts due to metal hip implants in CT-attenuation corrected PET images    from hybrid PET/CT scanners.”, Med. Biol. Eng. Comput., vol. 45, no. 6, 553-562, 2007.

     

    • Haim Azhari, Robert R. Edelman, and David Townsend: “Editorial: Multimodal Imaging and Hybrid Scanners”. International Journal of Biomedical Imaging, Article ID 45353, 2 pages. doi:10.1155/2007/45353, 2007

     

     

     

     
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