SECO Program Solicitation NSF 13-551: Microwave Nearfield Radar Imaging (NRI) Using Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) for Non-Invasive Breast Cancer Detection.

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Early, accurate detection of breast cancer has long been a top medical priority. Recent clinicalsuccess using Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) developed by our Massachusetts General Hospital(MGH) research partners shows reduced false alarms relative to conventional mammography.However, despite DBT?s enhanced detection capability, the 1% radiological contrast betweencancerous tissue and commonly-occurring fibroglandular tissue limits the unequivocal characterizationof diseased tissue. Alternatively, due to the relatively high contrast (10%) between cancerand fibro-glandular tissue, microwave imaging has a strong potential to distinguish diseasedfrom healthy tissue. However, the often highly heterogeneous nature of breast tissue, wherefibroglandular tissue is randomly interspersed in the adipose background, results in disorganizedmicrowave images resulting in degraded image reconstruction.In collaboration with our research partners at Northeastern University?s Gordon Center forSubsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems (Gordon-CenSSIS) ERC, HXI proposes to fuse the DBTX-ray imagery with microwave Nearfield Radar Imagery (NRI), and by building upon the imageextraction techniques developed by ERC platform technology, to significantly improve the canceroustissue detection rate.The proposed activities will help the scientific/medical community to advance the knowledgeand understanding of the effectiveness of microwave NRI method in detecting breast cancer.Our approach is based on the use of high resolution X-ray-based DBT imaging to obtain thespatial organization of heterogeneous breast tissues and on coupling it as prior informationto NRI for 3-D reconstruction. This completely new transformative concept has not been previouslyinvestigated, and it has the potential to overcome the limitations of a single-modality breastcancer imaging technology.This project brings together expertise from multiple disciplines:1) HXI, world experts in radar design, will build the NRI sensor and antenna array;2) CenSSIS will provide its platform technology algorithms to perform the sensing, imagingand feature extraction of biological tissues and conduct phantom experiments; and3) Consultants from the MGH will provide medical expertise.Our approach, using new but validated imaging systems, allows for rapid transition to industrialproduct development. The project furthers the ERC?s strategic plan through the applicationof translational research for commercialization, with appropriate licensing of CenSSIS? IPto HXI. Additionally, the NRI/DBT system has the potential to expand HXI?s portfolio of marketablemicrowave and RF products.The broader impacts of this project are multifaceted, including improving breast cancer detectionrates, minimizing the cost of treatment by reducing the number of false-positive screeningsand preventing patients from going through the anxiety that callback examinations create.Today, mammography allows 10-15% of cancers to go undetected and present themselves withinone year. In the United States approximately 45 million mammograms are performed annuallywith false positive rates of 8-10%. This equates to more than 4 million callback examinationsper year. With the global market growing at a CAGR of 15.4% developing better imaging systemsis a high priority, in terms of women?s health, emotional toll, and medical costs.