Nanodevice for Digital Imaging of Palpable Structure at Human-Finger Resolution f

描述（由申请人提供）：根据1963年以来的临床试验，乳房检查（CBE）与乳房x线摄影相结合可能是乳腺癌筛查中灵敏度和特异性高的最佳策略，如果CBE可以量化并数字化（和标准化）报告。肿瘤可触及结构的定量成像可能有助于破译乳腺和前哨淋巴结随时间的异常变化。一种廉价、无创的筛查工具，能够检测到小至5毫米的肿瘤，可用于连续的早期检测方法。这项研究的长期目标是开发一种薄膜纳米器件，即电子皮肤，它将物理接触时的压力分布转换为可以直接在数码相机上成像的光，其分辨率与人类手指相当（~20 <m）。通过类似CBE的手持式工具扫描，可以获得乳腺结节结构的定量图像和前哨淋巴结局部硬度评分。图像将被数字存储，包含可触及结节的大小和硬度的定量信息。该项目有三个具体目标：1)制造一种纳米器件，定量研究其性能，以测量高模量可触及质量的尺寸（分辨率），确定可检测的可触及质量的最低模量（对比度），确定产生质量定量图像所需的平均施加应力（灵敏度），以及质量的硬度（评分）；2)研究并量化地表下可触及肿块深度对成像（深度分辨率）的影响，研究平均外加应力对深度分辨率的影响，研究可触及肿块的性质；3)对具有结节结构的人工乳房进行与Specific Aims 1和2类似的分析，以便定量地了解曲率对测量图像的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Based on clinical trials since 1963, it appears that breast examination (CBE) in combination with mammography may be the best strategy for high sensitivity and specificity in breast cancer screening provided CBE can be quantitative with digital (and standardized) reporting. Quantitative imaging of the palpable structure of the tumor may help decipher the abnormal changes in the breast and sentinel lymph nodes over time. An inexpensive, noninvasive screening tool with the ability to detect tumors as small as ~5mm could be used in a sequential approach to early detection. The long- term objective of this research is to develop a thin-film nanodevice, i.e., electronic skin, that will convert the pressure distribution on physical contact to light that can be imaged directly on a digital camera at a resolution on par with the human finger (~20 <m). By scanning with the handheld tool, similar to CBE, a quantitative image of the nodular structure of the breast and sentinel lymph node scoring of the local hardness will be obtained. The image will be digitally stored containing quantitative information on both size and hardness of palpable nodules. There are three specific aims for this project: 1) to make a nanodevice to quantitatively study its performance to measure size of the high modulus palpable mass (resolution), determine the lowest modulus of palpable mass that is detectable (contrast), determine the average applied stress needed to produce a quantitative image of the mass (sensitivity), and hardness of the mass (scoring); 2) study and quantify the effect of the depth of the palpable mass beneath the surface on imaging (depth resolution), study the effect of average applied stress on depth resolution, and study the nature of the palpable mass; and 3) perform a similar analysis as described in Specific Aims 1 and 2 on an artificial breast with a nodular structure in order to quantitatively understand the effect of curvature on the measured image. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Development of an inexpensive, noninvasive, handheld screening tool for early detection of breast cancer that can image the palpability of a tumor and the nature of its attachment to surrounding tissue will enable family physicians and other clinicians to screen patients who do not have access to the more expensive screening tool and avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation used in mammography. The quantitative image with size, hardness, and palpability of the mass will provide a set of orthogonal measurements that will significantly improve the procedure of clinical breast examination (CBE) and improve specificity, i.e., low false positives, to help physicians make well-informed decisions to perform further testing and initiate therapy at the earliest stages of breast cancer.