A novel, stationary 3D X-ray source for improved breast imaging

这个项目旨在展示如何通过Adaptix的新型X射线源更早地发现乳腺癌。在英国，每8名女性中就有1人在一生中的某个时刻被诊断出患有乳腺癌，这是英国女性最常见的癌症(女性确诊的癌症中有31%是乳腺癌)。更早的时候，更准确的检测可以提高存活率，减少需要根治手术(乳房切除术)和积极的后续治疗的可能性。与目前的2D乳房X光检查系统相比，Adaptix SOURCE将实现更高的灵敏度，在目前的2D乳房X光检查系统中，一些癌症可以被覆盖的组织遮盖住，特别是在乳房致密的女性。我们的信号源使用固定的小X射线发射器阵列，而不是单一的信号源，从而覆盖了一系列角度，并以一种独特的方式获得关于乳房的3D信息。这将使检查比目前物理移动来源的3D乳房断层合成系统更快、更准确，因为这种移动可以模糊细微的细节，如癌症早期阶段看到的钙化。Adaptix已经展示了使用平板X射线源来分析牙齿和关节。乳房成像需要所有X射线程序中最高的图像质量，并要求Adaptix源更大且X射线能量更低。该项目将支持Adaptix与萨里大学和RSCH合作，后者已经开发了一套完整的端到端乳房X光摄影模拟工具，并将这一点应用于Adaptix源。该软件模拟每个发射器的X射线输出，选定的探测器对X射线的准确反应，并使用这些模型来虚拟成像大量详细和逼真的有无癌症的虚拟乳房模型。结果与真实图像难以区分。这意味着，无需开发多个物理原型或让妇女在临床研究中接受辐射，就可以对大量参数进行实验和优化。该项目将展示Adaptix源的理论优势，这将帮助Adaptix获得与一家全球医疗系统公司的合同，将该源集成到新的精密乳房X光照相设备系列中，以便在全球范围内分发。英国发明了CT和MRI扫描仪，这两种扫描仪现在都是在海外制造的。支持Adaptix将有助于将另一项变革性的英国技术推向市场，降低世界级医疗保健的成本，并将生产保持在国内，以确保英国制造业的就业机会。

"This project aims to show how breast cancer can be detected earlier by Adaptix's novel X-ray source.In the UK, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life, the most common cancer in women in the UK (31% of cancers diagnosed in women are breast cancer). Earlier, more accurate detection enables better chances of survival and reduces the likelihood of needing radical surgery (mastectomy) and aggressive follow-up treatment.The Adaptix source will enable higher sensitivity compared to current 2D mammography systems where some cancers can be obscured by overlying tissue, especially in women with dense breasts. Our source uses a stationary array of small X-ray emitters, instead of a single source, thereby covering a range of angles and a unique way to derive 3D information about a breast. This will make the examination faster and more accurate than current 3D breast tomosynthesis systems that physically move the source, since the movement can blur fine detail such as calcifications seen in the early stages of cancer.Adaptix have already demonstrated the use of a flat panel X-ray source for analysing teeth and joints. Breast imaging requires the highest image quality of all X-ray procedures, and requires the Adaptix source to be larger and with a lower X-ray energy.This project will support Adaptix to work with Surrey University and RSCH, who have developed a complete set of end-to-end mammography simulation tools and will apply this to the Adaptix source. The software models every emitter's X-ray output, a chosen detector's exact response to X-rays, and uses these to virtually image a large range of detailed and realistic virtual breast models with and without cancer. The results are indistinguishable from real images. It means that a huge range of parameters can be experimented with and optimized without having to develop multiple physical prototypes or subject women to radiation in a clinical study.This project will demonstrate the theoretical advantages of the Adaptix source, which will help Adaptix secure a contract with a global medical systems company, to integrate this source into a new line of precision mammography devices for worldwide distribution.The UK invented the CT and MRI scanner, both of which are now manufactured off-shore. Supporting Adaptix will help bring another transformational UK technology to market and reduce the cost of world-class healthcare, as well as keeping production on-shore to secure UK manufacturing jobs."