Development of a low-cost hardware accelerator for 3D image registration

描述（由申请人提供）：我们的总体目标是开发一种新颖的计算解决方案，用于在1分钟或更短的时间内自动准确地配准（空间对齐）任何形态和任何解剖（刚性或可变形）的三维（3D）医学图像。这种能力目前还不存在。现有的图像配准解决方案精度和/或适用性有限，阻碍了广泛和常规的临床应用。基于之前重要的学术研究，我们在该项目的第一阶段证明了创建拟议技术的可行性。我们现在建议创建一个功能齐全的交钥匙原型-一个紧凑，相对低成本（制造成本：约20,000美元）的PC硬件板-加速图像配准，以商业化为最终目标。图像配准是现代医学的一项基本需求，但这一需求仍未得到满足。在融合具有互补信息的图像或减去不同时间拍摄的图像以量化解剖/生理变化之前，这是必要的第一步。当从许多主题的图像中创建基于人口的地图集时，它也是必不可少的。图像配准还有许多其他应用，包括在许多新兴的微创图像引导干预中对术前和术中图像的配准，特别是那些治疗癌症的图像。我们在第二阶段的4个具体目标是：(1)创建1分钟图像配准的完全集成原型；(2)开发方便第三方集成和技术演示的软件；(3)进行PACS（图片档案与通信系统）集成，并分析整个企业的使用情况；(4)开发高影响力的模型应用。这些目标将继续在第一阶段取得的进展，并帮助创建临床测试和可行的多用途图像配准计算技术。拟议的第二期工作也将使我们处于有利地位，以获得私人资本和许可协议，并寻求商业化。我们提出的低成本、超快、易于使用和准确的计算解决方案有望在几乎所有临床学科（包括放射学、肿瘤学、神经学和心脏病学）中释放医学图像配准的全部潜力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our overall goal is to develop a novel computing solution for automatic and accurate registration (spatial alignment) of 3-dimensional (3D) medical images of any modality and any anatomy (rigid or deformable) in 1 minute or less. Such capability currently does not exist. Existing image registration solutions have limited accuracy and/or limited applicability, preventing wide and routine clinical use. Building on significant prior academic research, we demonstrated the feasibility of creating the proposed technology in Phase I of this project. We now propose to create a fully functional turnkey prototype-a compact, relatively low-cost (manufacturing cost: ~$20,000) PC board-of hardware- accelerated image registration, with commercialization as the ultimate goal. Image registration is a fundamental need in modern medicine-a need that remains unmet. It is the necessary first step before images with complementary information can be fused or images taken at different times can be subtracted to quantify anatomic/physiologic changes. It is also essential when creating a population- based atlas from images of many subjects. Image registration has numerous other applications, including the registration of pre- and intra-operative images in a host of emerging minimally invasive image-guided interventions, especially those to treat cancer. Our 4 specific aims for Phase II are to: (1) create a fully integrated prototype of 1-min image registration; (2) develop software for convenient third-party integration and technology demonstration; (3) perform PACS (picture archival and communication system) integration and analyze enterprise-wide utilization; and (4) develop high- impact model applications. These aims will continue the progress made in Phase I and help create a clinically tested and viable multipurpose image registration computing technology. The proposed Phase II work will also put us in a strong position to secure private capital and licensing agreements and pursue commercialization. Our proposed low-cost, ultrafast, easy-to-use, and accurate computing solution promises to unlock the full potential of medical image registration in virtually all clinical disciplines, including radiology, oncology, neurology, and cardiology.