CAREER: Intelligent Multi-Contrast Imaging Platform for Needle-Based Interventions

针基介入(NBI)是一种需要微创方法来减轻组织损伤的手术。该学院早期职业发展计划(Career)项目旨在开发一个智能和微型化的成像平台，可以实时识别组织结构。由此产生的平台将足够小，可以安装在医用针头内，并能够快速收集详细图像，从而训练自动机器学习工具，以改进针头引导。这项研究的结果将为未来改善NBI结果和多对比成像的技术设计提供参考。将启动一项全面的综合教育计划，以服务于美洲原住民学生。这一努力将使美洲原住民学生能够获得世界级的研究设施，并增加STEM的参与率和留存率。我们亦会为本地K-12学生举办其他教育活动，包括课程发展和特别的显微镜示范，以提高学生对生物成像的兴趣。这项职业计划将结合独特的前向成像多对比光学相干断层扫描(MC-OCT)针技术与先进的电脑辅助指导工具，为针刺介入治疗中的成像建立新的研究范式。内窥镜系统已被广泛报道，但由于受探头尺寸和光学设计的限制，它们不适合用于NBI引导。拟议的MC-OCT针将结合前向成像能力，并消除扫描体内光学元件的需要。这种小型化的OCT系统可以适应于不同NBI的相应针几何的中空孔内，而不需要额外的侵入性和针的修改。这种MC-OCT针头设备集成了定量偏振敏感功能，将促进进一步了解组织成分，并增强不同组织类型之间的对比度。该项目将与河滨印第安人学校合作，为俄克拉荷马州的印第安人制定生物光子学计划，以在生物医学工程和光学方面吸引和指导当地的美洲原住民高中学生和教师。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Needle-based interventions (NBIs) are procedures that require a minimally invasive approach to mitigate tissue damage. This Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) project aims to develop an intelligent and miniaturized imaging platform that can recognize tissue structures in real-time. The resulting platform will be small enough to fit inside of a medical needle and able to quickly collect detailed images that will train an automated machine learning tool for improved needle guidance. The outcomes of the research will inform the design of future technologies to improve NBI outcomes and multi-contrast imaging. A comprehensive integrated education plan will be initiated to serve Native American students. This effort will allow Native American students to have access to world-class research facilities and increase STEM participation and retention. Other educational activities including curriculum development and specific microscope demonstrations for local K-12 students will be organized to increase the students’ interest in bioimaging.This CAREER project will establish a new research paradigm for imaging in needle-based interventions through integrating a unique forward-imaging multi-contrast optical coherent tomography (MC-OCT) needle technology with advanced computer-aided guidance tools. Endoscopic systems have been widely reported, however, they are not suitable for NBI guidance as they are limited by probe size and optical design. The proposed MC-OCT needle will incorporate forward-imaging capability and eliminates the need to scan optics inside the body. This miniaturized OCT system can fit inside the hollow bore of relevant needle geometries for different NBIs without additional invasiveness and needle modification. Integrated quantitative polarization-sensitive capability into this MC-OCT needle device will promote further understanding the tissue composition and enhance the contrast between different tissue types. In collaboration with the Riverside Indian School, the project will develop the Biophotonics for Native Americans in Oklahoma program to engage and mentor local Native American high school students and teachers in biomedical engineering and optics.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.