Ultrawideband Microwave Detection of Breast Cancer`

描述(由申请人提供)： 该项目的长期科学目标是开发一种用于早期乳腺癌检测的超宽带(UWB)时空微波成像方法。强大的时空信号处理技术和低功率UWB微波雷达技术相结合，有望成为一种高度敏感的乳腺癌筛查工具。UWB传感系统利用低频和高频的特点，从而提供对丢失的生物组织的充分穿透和空间(和时间)分辨率。此外，超分辨率--也就是克服经典衍射极限的成像分辨率--可以与基于阵列的发射器和接收器结合使用。这项拟议工作的目标是在基于超宽带微波的检测、分类、监测和成像技术方面取得根本性进展，包括设计和实施临床前成像系统，并使用模仿临床环境中患者形态的拟人乳房模型对这一新方法进行评估。这项研究将在人体研究对象的体内成像研究中达到顶峰。为实现这一目标，将致力于实现以下技术目标：1)开发先进的空时信号处理算法，可应用于超宽带微波散射信号的三维检测、成像、分类和监测。2)结合我们的第一代和第二代硬件原型系统，使用解剖逼真的数字乳房模型和拟人化的物理乳房组织模型来表征和改进我们的UWB成像技术的性能。3)构建适合于活体成像研究的第二代临床前原型系统。4)使用临床前原型系统对人体研究对象进行初步的活体成像研究。这些目标的成功完成将提供令人信服的有效性证据，使后续开发适合临床试验的微波乳房成像系统成为可能，并使低功率UWB微波成像成为临床上相关的非电离、非侵入性乳腺癌检测/筛查和监测工具。预计的安全性、舒适性(不压迫乳房)、易用性和低成本特征应该会提高公众对年度筛查建议的遵从性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): IThe long-term scientific aim of this project is to develop an ultrawideband (UWB) space-time microwave imaging method for early-stage breast cancer detection. The combination of robust space-time signal processing techniques and low-power UWB microwave radar techniques offers the promise of a highly sensitive breast cancer screening tool. UWB sensing systems take advantage of the features of both lower and higher frequencies, thereby providing sufficient penetration into Iossy biological tissue and spatial (and temporal) resolution. Furthermore, super-resolution - that is, imaging resolution that overcomes the classical diffraction limit - can be achieved with UWB signals in conjunction with array-based transmitters and receivers. The goal of the proposed work is to bring about fundamental advances in UWB microwave based detection, classification, monitoring, and imaging techniques, including the design and implementation of a pre-clinical prototype imaging system and the evaluation of this novel approach using anthropomorphic breast phantoms that mimic the configuration of the patient in the clinical setting. The research will culminate with in vivo imaging studies on human research subjects. The following technical aims will be pursued to accomplish this goal: 1) To develop advanced space-time signal-processing algorithms that can be applied to UWB microwave scattered signals for the 3-D detection, imaging, classification, and monitoring of malignant breast lesions. 2) To characterize and refine the performance of our UWB imaging techniques using anatomically realistic numerical breast models and anthropomorphic physical breast tissue phantoms in conjunction with our first-and second-generation hardware prototype systems. 3) To construct a second-generation, pre-clinical prototype system suitable for in vivo imaging studies. 4) To conduct initial in vivo imaging studies with human research subjects using the pre-clinical prototype system. Successful completion of these aims will provide compelling evidence of efficacy, permit subsequent development of a microwave breast imaging system suitable for clinical trials, and lead to the establishment of low-power UWB microwave imaging as a clinically relevant non-ionizing, non-invasive tool for breast cancer detection/screening and monitoring. The predicted safety, comfort (no breast compression), ease-of-use and low-cost features should improve public compliance with annual screening recommendations.