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结构（刚性或可变形）的 3 维 (3D) 医学图像。目前不存在这种能力。现有的图像配准解决方案的准确性和/或适用性有限，阻碍了广泛和常规的临床使用。基于先前的重要学术研究，我们证明了在该项目第一阶段创建所提议技术的可行性。我们现在建议创建一个功能齐全的交钥匙原型——一种紧凑的、相对低成本（制造成本：约20,000美元）的PC板硬件加速图像配准，以商业化为最终目标。图像配准是现代医学的基本需求，但这一需求仍未得到满足。这是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/生理变化之前必要的第一步。当根据许多主题的图像创建基于人口的地图集时，它也很重要。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措施中，尤其是治疗癌症的干预措施中，术前和术中图像的配准。我们第二阶段的 4 个具体目标是：（1）创建一个完全集成的 1 分钟图像配准原型； （2）开发方便第三方集成和技术演示的软件； （3）进行PACS（图片档案和通信系统）集成并分析全企业的利用率； (4) 开发高影响力的模型应用程序。这些目标将延续第一阶段取得的进展，并帮助创建经过临床测试且可行的多用途图像配准计算技术。拟议的第二阶段工作也将使我们在获得私人资本和许可协议以及追求商业化方面处于有利地位。我们提出的低成本、超快、易于使用且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。 公共健康相关性：结合 2 个或更多不同类型的医学图像可以提供有关患者病情的更准确信息。比较不同时间拍摄的图像有助于监测疾病对治疗的反应。无论哪种情况，图像配准（对齐）都是至关重要的第一步。目前的图像配准方法速度慢、复杂且繁琐，实际适用性有限。我们建议开发适用于大多数器官和图像类型的自动、高速、3 维配准功能。我们在第一阶段展示了创建此类技术的可行性。我们建议在第二阶段对其进行全面开发和广泛的临床示范。

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. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Combining 2 or more medical images of different types gives more precise information on a patient's condition. Comparing images taken at different times helps monitor how a disease is responding to treatment. In either case, image registration (alignment) is the crucial first step. Current image registration methods are slow, complex, and tedious, with limited practical applicability. We propose developing automatic, high-speed, 3-dimensional registration capabilities that are applicable to most organs and image types. We demonstrated the feasibility of creating such a technology in Phase I. We propose its full development and extensive clinical demonstration in Phase II.