The development of instrumentation and X-ray analysis systems for the identification and characterisation of human tissue and other materials

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The current aim of this proposal is to develop X-Ray analysis instrumentation for a number of applications. The main component of the work will be the design and testing of an instrument that will provide quantitative estimates on human tissue parameters that can be used to characterise a tissue sample and use this information to aid the work of both histopathologists and surgeons. Histopathology is the link between diagnosis and patient management and involves the use of a small tissue sample which is analysed in order to recognise the disease type and extent. The outcome of this procedure may lead to the patient undergoing surgery to remove the tissue from which the small sample was taken. One of the problems in surgery is the ability to detect the margins of the tumour being excised i.e. the border between diseased and healthy tissue. Our device will enable surgeons to test if these margins have been reached and hence improve the outcome of the operation. Our work to date has been undertaken using breast and liver tissue but will also be applicable to cervix, prostate, bladder, colon and kidney. The tissue samples will be analysed by recording data produced from the interactions of x-rays with the tissue in the form of x-ray scattering, x-ray fluorescence from trace and minor elements within the tissue as well as transmission measurements. The data will be combined in a novel analytical procedure based upon a multivariate statistical approach. We propose to obtain the characteristic features of these x-ray signals, develop the experimental methods to obtain them simultaneously, quickly and reliably, and to develop predictive models that will allow classification of an unknown sample. The final outcome of the proposal will be the design of a compact instrument suitable for use in the hospital environment that has the potential to improve postoperative outcomes for patients and reduce healthcare costs.