ultraMAMMA II - Dynamic UWB microwave imaging for breast cancer detection

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The research project ultraMAMMA aims for utilize the specific properties of ultra wideband microwave sensing in order to use it for medical imaging and detection of breast cancer. Despite of the advantageous biophysical (harmless and non-ionizing tissue penetration) and system conceptual (compact, reasonably priced, circuit integration) properties, UWB technology could not be established in clinical practice so far. Critical problems complicating the clinical application will be investigated in the project and related solutions will be developed.The aims of the requested project continuation are related to two main topics to be worked on in two work packages:1. Evaluation and further development of the established native (without any contrast agents) approach of UWB breast imaging based on real clinical measurements of volunteers and patients 2. New development / further development and experimental analysis of a contrast enhancing dynamic approach for breast cancer detection based on magnetic modulated MNP in order to improve the identification of suspicious cancer foci, especially in dense breast tissue. After establishing the ethical, legal and technological basis for clinical UWB breast imaging in the previous funding phase of ultraMAMMA, the clinical measurements are now to be carried out, evaluated and compared with other modalities (mammography / Mamma MRI) in the full extend based on volunteers and patients (work package 1). In work package 2, a newly introduced differential in situ imaging approach based on magnetic modulation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) has to be enhanced in order to detect clinically realistic MNP quantities in the tumor (< 5 mg) robustly and in order to meet the requirements of clinical workflow.