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

针基干预（NBIs）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小型化的成像平台，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的图像，这些图像将训练自动机器学习工具来改进针头引导。研究结果将为未来技术的设计提供信息，以改善NBI结果和多对比度成像。一项全面的综合教育计划将启动，为美国土著学生提供服务。这项努力将使美国原住民学生有机会使用世界一流的研究设施，并提高STEM的参与度和保留率。其他教育活动，包括为本地K-12学生举办的课程开发和特定的显微镜演示，以提高学生对生物成像的兴趣。该CAREER项目将通过将独特的前向成像多对比度光学相干断层扫描（MC-OCT）针头技术与先进的计算机辅助引导工具相结合，为针基干预成像建立新的研究范式。内窥镜系统已被广泛报道，然而，由于探针尺寸和光学设计的限制，它们不适合NBI制导。提议的MC-OCT针头将整合前向成像能力，并消除了扫描体内光学器件的需要。这种小型化的OCT系统可以安装在不同nbi的相关针头几何形状的空心孔内，而无需额外的侵入性和针头修改。该MC-OCT针装置集成了定量偏振敏感能力，有助于进一步了解组织组成，增强不同组织类型之间的对比。该项目将与河滨印第安学校合作，为俄克拉何马州的印第安人开发生物光子学项目，以吸引和指导当地印第安高中学生和教师学习生物医学工程和光学。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。

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.