I want to give special thanks to John Hailer for providing the heat transfer modules used in this work. Finally, I thank God for giving me the strength and health to accomplish this stage of my life.

In this work a real-time high-resolution 3D ultrasound imaging system is developed, allowing the 3D acquisition and imaging of high-resolution ultrasound data for biomedical applications. The system uses ultrasound transducers in the ranges of 30 to 100 MHz, and allows full access of the radiofrequency (RF) ultrasound data for the 3D image reconstruction. This work includes the development of two graphical user interfaces in C++ to interact with a high-resolution ultrasound system and to image the high-resolution ultrasound data. In addition, a methodology is described and implemented in the system for 3D ultrasound reconstruction and visualization. The development of these GUIs allows easy 3D high-resolution ultrasound acquisition and imaging to any user with basic knowledge in ultrasound and with only minimal and faster training in the system and the GUIs. This capability opens the system to any researcher or person interested in performing experimentations with high-resolution ultrasound. The high-resolution 3D ultrasound imaging system is tested to assess atherosclerosis using different mouse models. To assess atherosclerosis, a series of in vitro studies are performed to 3D scan vessels of mouse aortas and carotids vessels with atherosclerosis, as well as mouse hearts with atherosclerosis. The apolipoprotein Eknockout (APOE) and the apolipoprotein E-A1 adenosine receptor double knockout (DKO) mice model with their wild type control (C57) are used. Three-dimensional reconstructions were rendered showing good matches with the samples morphology. In addition, 3D sections of the data are reconstructed showing atherosclerotic plaque in the samples. The 3D ultrasound reconstruction allows for us to analyze a sample from outside and inside by rotating around any angle and cropping non-relevant data, allowing us to observe shape and appearance of the 3D structures. Finally, after reconstructing and analyzing the 3D ultrasound images, a 3D quantitative assessment of atherosclerotic plaque is performed. After analyzing the samples, the plaque lesions of DKO mouse model exhibits smaller areas than those of the APOE mouse model. Additionally, the C57 mouse model is clean of any atherosclerosis. These findings are in agreement with a previous study of our group for these mouse models. iv DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this work to my family, my mom Emérita, my grandma Ana, and my brother Jairo, for giving me their support and strength to accomplish this stage of my life, and especially to Alana, for helping and encouraging me during this process. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Osama Mukdadi for giving me the opportunity to work with him, for his support, patience, dedication and help in this work.