Next Generation Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Scanner

描述（申请人提供）：乳房x光检查是目前早期发现乳腺癌最有效的筛查和诊断工具。然而，目前的二视图乳房x线摄影方法缺乏灵敏度，并且有很高的误报率。x射线数字乳房断层合成（DBT）是一种新兴的技术，用于产生多层图像，以提供深度分辨率和提高对比度。该提案的目标是开发下一代DBT扫描仪，在潜在的降低剂量和成本的情况下显着提高系统性能。目前所有的商业原型DBT扫描仪都使用常规的全视野数字乳房x线摄影（FFDM）系统，使用单个x射线源在压缩乳房上方沿弧线移动，从有限的角度范围内生成一系列投影视图。这种扫描仪有几个固有的局限性，包括：1)源旋转导致扫描时间长，患者因乳房受压而不适；2)源的缓慢运动导致运动模糊和系统不稳定，限制了空间分辨率。此外，较长的扫描时间阻碍了双能量和准单色成像等先进成像方法的适应，而k边缘成像可以提供更好的对比度和降低成像剂量。我们建议开发一种新型的固定式DBT扫描仪来减轻上述限制。该器件基于我们团队发明并演示的新型碳纳米管（CNT）多像素场发射x射线（MBFEX）技术。与目前的商用扫描仪相比，该扫描仪将具有以下优势：成像速度提高10倍；提高空间分辨率；简化系统设计，降低成本；并在合理的扫描时间内实现双能和准单色成像。该装置的可行性已得到验证。该提案的目标是将该技术提升到一个新的水平，从实验室概念验证组装到将用于临床研究的全功能系统。我们已经形成了一个由北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校（UNC），南伊利诺伊大学（SIU）和XinRay系统组成的跨学科团队组成的合作伙伴关系-西门子和新泰克合资企业（XinRay）。UNC团队开创了CNT MBFEX技术和静止断层成像概念。XinRay最近成立，专门用于制造和商业化用于x射线成像的MBFEX技术。SIU的团队在乳房断层合成的重建和图像分析方面拥有丰富的经验。公共卫生相关性：本提案的目标是开发下一代数字乳腺断层合成（DBT）扫描仪，用于检测和诊断人类乳腺癌，其成像速度和分辨率显着提高，并且可能降低剂量和成本。为了完成这项工作，我们组建了一个由北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校（UNC）、南伊利诺伊大学（SIU）和西门子与新泰克合资企业XinRay Systems （XinRay）组成的跨学科团队组成的合作伙伴关系。优化后的设备将安装在北卡罗来纳大学医学院，作为共享成像设施，并用于未来的临床研究

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mammography is currently the most effective screening and diagnostic tool for early detection of breast cancer. However the current 2-view mammography method lacks sensitivity and has a very high false alarm rate. X-ray digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an emerging technique for producing multi-slice images to provide depth resolution and improved contrast. The goal of this proposal is to develop the next generation DBT scanner with significantly improved system performance at potentially reduced dose and cost. All current commercial prototype DBT scanners use a regular full-field digital mammography (FFDM) system to generate a series of projection views from a limited angle range using a single x-ray source that moves along an arc above the compressed breast. Such scanners have several intrinsic limitations including: 1) the source rotation leads to long scanning time and discomfort for patients from breast compression; and 2) the slow motion of the source leads to motion blurring and system instability that limited the spatial resolution. In addition the long scanning time prevents the adaptation of advanced imaging methods such as dual energy and quasi-monochromatic, and k- edge imaging which can potentially provide better contrast and reduce imaging dose. We propose to develop a novel stationary DBT scanner to mitigate the above limitations. This proposed device is based on the new carbon nanotube (CNT) multi-pixel field emission x- ray (MBFEX) technology invented and demonstrated by our team. The scanner will be designed to offer the following advantages over the current commercial units: a factor of 10 increase of the imaging speed; increased spatial resolution; simplified system design and reduced cost; and dual energy and quasi-monochromatic imaging at a reasonable scanning time. The feasibility of the proposed device has been demonstrated. The goal of this proposal is to take this technology to the next level moving from a laboratory proof-of-concept assembly to a fully functional system that will be used for clinical studies. We have formed a partnership comprising an interdisciplinary team from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC), Southern Illinois University (SIU), and XinRay Systems - a Siemens and Xintek Joint Venture (XinRay). The UNC team pioneered the CNT MBFEX technology and the stationary tomography imaging concept. XinRay was recently established specifically for the purpose of manufacturing and commercializing the MBFEX technology for x-ray imaging. The group at SIU has extensive experiences is reconstruction and image analysis for breast tomosynthesis. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The goal of this proposal is to develop the next generation digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) scanner for detection and diagnostic of human breast cancer with significantly improved imaging speed and resolution, and potentially reduced dose and cost. To perform this work we have formed a partnership comprising an interdisciplinary team from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC), Southern Illinois University (SIU), and XinRay Systems - a Siemens and Xintek Joint Venture (XinRay). The optimized device will be installed at the UNC medical school as a shared imaging facility and for future clinical studies