Next Generation Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Scanner

描述(申请人提供)：乳房X光摄影是目前最有效的乳癌早期发现筛查和诊断工具。然而，目前的两视图乳房X光摄影方法缺乏敏感性，并且有很高的误警率。X-射线数字乳腺断层合成(DBT)是一种新兴的产生多层图像的技术，以提供深度分辨率和改善对比度。这项提议的目标是开发下一代DBT扫描仪，在可能降低剂量和成本的情况下显著提高系统性能。目前所有的商业原型DBT扫描仪都使用常规的全场数字乳房X光摄影(FFDM)系统，使用沿压缩乳房上方的弧线移动的单个X射线源从有限的角度范围生成一系列投影图。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较长，患者因乳房受压而感到不适；2)源的缓慢运动导致运动模糊和系统不稳定，从而限制了空间分辨率。此外，较长的扫描时间阻碍了先进成像方法的适应，例如双能量和准单色成像，以及K边缘成像，它们可能提供更好的对比度和减少成像剂量。我们建议开发一种新型的固定式DBT扫描仪来缓解上述限制。该装置基于我们团队发明和演示的新型碳纳米管(CNT)多像素场发射X射线(MBFEX)技术。该扫描仪的设计将比目前的商业单位提供以下优势：成像速度提高10倍；提高空间分辨率；简化系统设计和降低成本；在合理的扫描时间进行双能量和准单色成像。通过实验验证了该装置的可行性。这项提议的目标是将这项技术提升到一个新的水平，从实验室的概念验证组装转移到一个将用于临床研究的全功能系统。我们已经组成了一个由来自北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校(UNC)、南伊利诺伊大学(SIU)和新光系统(SinRay Systems)的跨学科团队组成的合作伙伴关系。新光系统是西门子和新特的合资企业。北卡罗来纳大学的团队开创了CNT MBFEX技术和静止断层成像概念。新光公司是最近成立的，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。与公众健康相关：该提案的目标是开发下一代数字乳房断层合成(DBT)扫描仪，用于检测和诊断人类乳腺癌，显著提高成像速度和分辨率，并有可能降低剂量和成本。为了执行这项工作，我们组成了一个由来自北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校(UNC)、南伊利诺伊大学(SIU)和新光系统(SinRay Systems)的跨学科团队组成的合作伙伴关系，新光系统是西门子和新特的合资企业。优化后的设备将安装在北卡罗来纳大学医学院，作为共享成像设备，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