SBIR Phase II: High Resolution Terahertz Video Camera for Medical Imaging

SBIR 第二阶段：用于医学成像的高分辨率太赫兹摄像机

• 批准号: 2126136
• 负责人: John Hong
• 金额: $ 98.73万
• 依托单位: OBSIDIAN SENSORS, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-04-01 至 2024-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2126136&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; II; Resolution; Terahertz

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop and launch a new, commercially viable terahertz (THz) imaging technology initially targeted at medical imaging applications. The prototype instrument uses THz reflective imaging phenomenology, a technique that has been shown to efficiently discriminate between healthy and diseased tissues. With a resolution of more than 300x300 pixels, operation at between 10-30 frames per second, and a compact form factor, the system is appropriate for medical environments such as cancer surgeries, including glioblastoma resection. The THz camera will be a new addition to the medical imaging market that has matured with x-ray, MRI, visible and infrared technologies to reach $45 billion. This new instrument is enabled by a large format sensor array that uses a low-cost manufacturing process already implemented in a high-volume foundry. In addition to the medical application, similar imaging systems can be used in security screening applications ($2 billion market/year) such as passenger screening at airports. More broadly, the underlying sensor technology can be adapted for use across the extremely wide THz spectrum, which has implications for many industries. The intellectual merit of this project is primarily its integration of both high resolution and high-speed aspects of THz imaging, as these capabilities have not yet been demonstrated in a commercially viable form. Previous demonstrations have either involved slow scanning systems that preclude real time applications or cameras that target much higher bands of the THz spectrum. The latter restriction stems from an inability to manufacture arrays of large pixels to image at the longer THz wavelengths. Going beyond one of a kind laboratory proof of concept experiments, the THz camera seeks to provide resolution and frame update rates that are relevant to actual applications. The commercial manufacturing viability of the sensing element may ensure that applications beyond the initial medical market will be practical. The camera will feature not only the high-resolution THz imaging near the 250-350 GHz spectrum but also incorporate high-resolution visible and near-infrared cameras that can complement the THz video, with trials being planned for hospital usage. In addition to clinical usage scenarios, the imaging system can be adapted for use in airport security and other screening applications, as portability and ease of use will guide the demonstration system design.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个小企业创新研究第二阶段项目将开发和推出一种新的、商业上可行的太赫兹（THz）成像技术，最初针对医学成像应用。原型仪器使用太赫兹反射成像现象学，这种技术已被证明可以有效区分健康和病变组织。该系统的分辨率超过300x300像素，操作速度在每秒10-30帧之间，外形紧凑，适合癌症手术等医疗环境，包括胶质母细胞瘤切除。太赫兹相机将成为医学成像市场的新成员，该市场已经成熟，x射线、核磁共振、可见光和红外技术达到450亿美元。这种新仪器是由大尺寸传感器阵列实现的，该阵列采用了已经在大批量代工厂中实现的低成本制造工艺。除了医疗应用之外，类似的成像系统还可用于安全检查应用（每年20亿美元的市场），例如机场的乘客检查。更广泛地说，底层传感器技术可以适用于极宽的太赫兹频谱，这对许多行业都有影响。这个项目的智力价值主要是它整合了太赫兹成像的高分辨率和高速方面，因为这些能力尚未在商业上可行的形式中得到证明。之前的演示要么涉及妨碍实时应用的慢速扫描系统，要么涉及针对太赫兹频谱更高波段的相机。后一种限制源于无法制造大像素阵列，以便在较长的太赫兹波长下成像。太赫兹相机超越了一种概念实验的实验室验证，寻求提供与实际应用相关的分辨率和帧更新速率。传感元件的商业制造可行性可以确保超出初始医疗市场的应用将是实际的。该摄像机不仅具有250-350 GHz频谱附近的高分辨率太赫兹成像，而且还包含可以补充太赫兹视频的高分辨率可见光和近红外摄像机，计划在医院使用试验。除了临床使用场景外，该成像系统还可以适用于机场安检和其他筛查应用，因为便携性和易用性将指导演示系统的设计。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。