Center for Virtual Imaging Trials

摘要-虚拟成像试验中心 医学成像设备和方法的加速复杂性已经在很大程度上超过了该领域的能力， 评估和优化其设计和临床使用。通过临床试验这样做通常是不可行的， 由于道德限制、费用、时间要求和/或基本缺乏基本事实， （准确的患者解剖结构和状况）。评估成像技术的最新方法 临床试验依赖于简单化的模型和对图像美学的主观感知，并且结果不容易 预测临床疗效。为了填补这一空白，虚拟成像试验中心的广泛目标是开发 用于评估医学成像系统和方法的有效性的虚拟平台， 任务最初的焦点是计算机断层扫描（CT），这既是由于其广泛的医疗用途，也是由于其 是最大的医疗辐射源。虚拟成像试验提供了一种有效的手段， 通过模拟患者、成像系统和图像评估，在计算机上实现成像概念和技术。 这种虚拟试验可以在计算机上快速、经济地进行，为研究人员提供了一个 一种实用的方法来回答基本问题，使用精确的控制和精确的知识， 病人模型它们还可以对当前和新兴的成像技术进行客观优化 （硬件和软件），以尽量减少辐射风险，并提供定量的准确性。通过加速和 改善成像技术的评估和优化，虚拟试验支持质量，安全性和有效性 以病人为中心的护理实践。 为了实现其目标，该中心将开发，完善和传播必要的资源， 建模并表示a）患者，B）成像系统，以及c）图像评估。这些资源包括 三个技术研究和发展项目，这些项目协同工作， 合作项目（CP）和服务项目（SP）。A技术培训和 传播部分将分配中心的资源并提供必要的培训。 管理提供基础设施、监督和集成。总体具体目标是：（1）发展， 整合和简化所需组件，以实现现有和新兴的虚拟成像试验 CT成像方法，（2）将虚拟试验定位为量化、评估和 优化CT成像，以及（3）向研究界传播有效的虚拟试验工具， CT和培训研究人员有效地使用它们。使用最先进的模拟和分析方法， 该中心将提供第一个评估成像技术诊断能力的综合平台 从设计到使用的完整轨迹。该中心将对严格和 医学成像的可重复科学设计、预测和实践，从CT开始， 测量到的辐射剂量的减少、图像质量的改善和精确成像的进步。

ABSTRACT – Center for Virtual Imaging Trials The accelerating complexity of medical imaging devices and methods has largely outpaced the field's ability to evaluate and optimize their design and clinical use. Doing so through clinical trials is often not feasible or definitive due to ethical limitations, expense, time requirements, and/or a fundamental lack of ground truth (exact patient anatomy and condition). Most current approaches to assess imaging technologies outside of clinical trials rely on simplistic models and subjective perception of image aesthetics, and results cannot readily predict clinical efficacy. To fill this gap, the broad objective of the Center for Virtual Imaging Trials is to develop a virtual platform for assessing the effectiveness of medical imaging systems and methods for specific clinical tasks. The initial focus is on computed tomography (CT), both due to its widespread medical utility and its status as the largest source of medical radiation. Virtual imaging trials offer an efficient means to evaluate imaging concepts and technologies in silico by simulating the patient, imaging system, and image evaluation. Such virtual trials can be conducted quickly and cost effectively on a computer, providing researchers a practical way to answer fundamental questions using the precise controls and the exact knowledge of a modeled patient. They also enable objective optimization of current and emerging imaging technologies (hardware and software) to minimize radiation risk and provide quantitative accuracy. By accelerating and improving imaging technologies' evaluation and optimization, virtual trials support quality, safety, and effective practice of patient-centered care. To achieve its objective, the Center will develop, refine, and disseminate the essential resources to realistically model and represent a) patients, b) imaging systems, and c) image evaluation. These resources comprise the three Technology Research and Development (TRD) projects, which work synergistically with and provide resources to Collaborative Projects (CPs) and Service Projects (SPs). A Technology Training and Dissemination (TTD) component will distribute the Center's resources and provide the necessary training. Administration provides infrastructure, oversight, and integration. The overall Specific Aims are to (1) develop, consolidate, and streamline the required components to enable virtual imaging trials of existing and emerging CT imaging methods, (2) position virtual trials as an alternative methodology to quantify, evaluate, and optimize CT imaging, and (3) disseminate to the research community validated tools for efficient virtual trials in CT and train researchers to use them effectively. Using state-of-the-art simulation and analysis methods, the Center will provide the first comprehensive platform to assess the diagnostic capability of imaging technologies in their complete trajectory from design to use. The Center will have a notable impact on rigorous and reproducible scientific design, prediction, and practice of medical imaging, starting with CT, leading to measured reductions in radiation dose, improvements in image quality, and advancement of precision imaging.