SBIR Phase I: A New Solid State Surgical Imaging Probe

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目建议开发一种新的术中成像探头，该探头基于固态、紧凑的读出传感器，并与高分辨率、高光输出转换器相结合。核医学成像已被广泛用于术前对切除活检感兴趣的结构进行成像。利用非成像伽马探测器探头和放射性示踪剂的术中放射引导程序促进了一种经济高效、高度特异的方法来定位可疑组织并对其进行病理分析。放射引导手术的结果是提高了活检获得的组织特异性，最小限度地切开了切口，并减少了住院患者的医院利用率，改善了患者的康复。非成像伽玛引导的主要缺点是缺乏调查区域的辅助信息，例如区分两个相邻的放射性区域，这可以用术中成像探头来克服。此外，来自身体其他部位的高穿透性伽马辐射增加了背景，限制了当前探头的实际使用。这个第一阶段的项目试图通过设计新一代术中探头来解决这些限制，该探头旨在用短程贝塔射线对肿瘤床进行成像。一旦开发出来，这种探测器将能够准确地描绘肿瘤，从而促进精确的切除。该项目的商业应用是在生物医学设备和仪器领域。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop a new intraoperative imaging probe based on a solid-state, compact readout sensor coupled to a high resolution, high light output converter. Nuclear Medicine imaging has been widely used to preoperatively image structures of interest for excisional biopsy. Radio-guided intraoperative procedures utilizing non-imaging gamma detector probes and radiotracers have facilitated a cost-effective, highly specific means to locate suspect tissue and access it for pathologic analysis. The result of radio-guided surgery is increased tissue specificity obtained for biopsy, minimally accessed incisions, and the reduction of inpatient hospital utilization with an improved patient recovery. The main drawback of non- imaging gamma guidance is the lack of ancillary information of the surveyed area, such as distinction between two neighboring radioactive regions, which can be overcome with an intraoperative imaging probe. Also, the highly penetrating gamma radiation from other parts of the body increases the background, and limits the practical use of current probes. This Phase i project seeks to address these limitations by designing a new-generation intraoperative probe intended to image the tumor bed with short-range beta rays. When developed, this detector will allow accurate delineation of the tumor, thus facilitating precise resection.The commercial application of this project is in the area of biomedical devices and instrumentation.