Tactile and Ultrasonic Imaging for Next Generation Breast Cancer Screening

乳腺TI诊断/筛查潜力的临床数据表明，其上级临床乳腺检查，与乳腺X线摄影相当或上级乳腺X线摄影。TI的优点包括固有的低成本，易于使用，便携性，无电离辐射，以及最低的培训要求。由申办方PPS（www.pressureprofile.com）开发的系统目前正由Bexa（www.mybexa.com）商业化。触觉成像非常适合筛查潜在的病变，但在区分良性囊肿和肿瘤方面受到限制。超声成像的针对性太强，无法对乳房进行全面扫描，但可以区分囊肿和肿瘤，减少活检的需要。这个博士将研究应力（触觉）和应变（超声波）的融合，以优化乳腺癌筛查。项目目标包括：1）了解使用触觉成像和超声成像进行乳房成像的最新技术。2)开发程序和算法，使用TI组合来发现和超声诊断病变3）开发混合超声/触觉成像传感器模块并演示概念4）研究在基本水平上结合应力（TI）和应变（超声）的方法/算法，以提高诊断能力

Clinical data on the diagnostic/screening potential of breast TI indicate that it is superior to the clinical breast exam and comparable or superior to mammography. Advantages of TI include inherently low cost, ease-of-use, portability, no ionising radiation, and minimal training requirements. A system developed by the sponsor PPS (www.pressureprofile.com), is currently being commercialised by Bexa (www.mybexa.com). Tactile imaging is well suited screening for potential lesions, but is limited in differentiating benign cysts and tumours. Ultrasonic imaging is too targeted to perform a global scan of the breast, but can differentiate between cysts and tumours, reducing the need for biopsy. This PhD will investigate the fusion of stress (tactile) and strain (ultrasonic) to optimise breast cancer screening. Project aims include:1) Understand the state of the art in breast imaging using tactile imaging and ultrasonic imaging. 2) Develop procedures and algorithms that use a combination of TI to find and ultrasound to diagnose lesions3) Develop a hybrid ultrasonic/tactile imagine sensor module and demonstrate the concept4) Investigate methods/algorithms of combining stress (TI) and strain (ultrasound) at a fundamental level to enhance diagnosis capability