Electronically Switched Imaging Array for Breast-Cancer Screening

用于乳腺癌筛查的电子切换成像阵列

• 批准号: RTI-2020-00456
• 负责人: Nikolova, Natalia
• 金额: $ 10.92万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=693692
• 关键词: Electronically; Switched; Imaging; Array; Breast

The project's objective is to fabricate and test a microwave-imaging prototype for breast-cancer screening. It also includes the development of a new ultra-wideband receiver chip. The prototype is intended for breast examination in a setting similar to that in mammography, i.e., the breast will be placed between two flat plates which contain the imaging antenna arrays. Only slight compression will be applied to ensure lack of motion during measurement. The prototype will be tested on breast-tissue phantoms in preparation for future clinical trials with patients.*** The requested equipment will support research rooted in three of our recent advances: (i) image-reconstruction methods that produce high-quality quantitative images in real time, (ii) imaging instrumentation that can collect data over a large dynamic range, and (iii) calibration strategies that can compensate for the unpredictable patient-specific environment. In addition to these capabilities, the proposed system architecture will allow for the completion of the measurements within minutes, thus setting the stage for a breakthrough toward clinical deployment. *** The potential impact of this research is great, not only for cancer diagnostics but for a wide variety of applications of microwave imaging. In breast-cancer screening, it will provide much needed complementarity to mammography and ultrasound. Mammography the primary screening tool has serious shortcomings: X-rays are ionizing, purchase and maintenance costs are high, breast compression is painful, sensitivity in radiologically dense breasts is low, and deployment is limited to a few cancer centers, almost always located far from small towns and rural areas. In contrast, microwaves are nonionizing, the electronics is low-cost and compact, the required compression cannot cause pain, sensitivity is less affected by the tissue density, and the apparatus can be deployed in family clinics. This will make breast-cancer screening accessible and more effective, since check-ups can be conducted more frequently than the current rate of one exam every 2 years for women aged 50 years and older. Accessibility is particularly important in view of the increase of the aging population. *** The team includes Prof. Nikolova (expert on microwave imaging, high-frequency electronics and antenna design), Prof. Noseworthy (medical physicist and an expert on medical imaging), and Prof. Chen (expert on analog integrated circuit design). The team's combined experience in imaging, medical diagnostics and radio-frequency design spans more than four decades of internationally recognized research.*** The project will provide unique training opportunities for an interdisciplinary group of researchers and students with exposure to microwave design, fabrication, and system integration, along with microwave and medical imaging methods.

该项目的目标是制造和测试用于乳腺癌筛查的微波炉成像原型。它还包括开发新的超宽带接收器芯片。该原型用于乳房检查，与乳房X线摄影相似的设置，即，将乳房放置在两个含有成像天线阵列的平板之间。仅对测量过程中缺乏运动，只会采用轻微的压缩。该原型将在乳房组织幻象上进行测试，以准备与患者进行未来的临床试验。***所请求的设备将支持植根于我们最近的三个进展中的研究：（i）图像重建方法在实时产生高质量的定量图像，以实时产生高质量的定量图像，（ii）可以在大型动态范围内收集数据，以弥补（III III）的图像，并可以验证（III III级），并可以将（III III）进行验证。除这些功能外，提出的系统体系结构还可以在几分钟内完成测量，从而为临床部署的突破奠定了基础。 ***这项研究的潜在影响不仅对癌症诊断，而且对于微波成像的各种应用。在乳腺癌筛查中，它将为乳房X线摄影和超声检查提供急需的互补性。乳房X线摄影主要的筛查工具具有严重的缺点：X射线是电离，购买和维护成本高，乳房压缩是痛苦的，放射线密集的乳房的敏感性较低，并且部署仅限于几个癌症中心，几乎总是远离小镇和农村地区。相比之下，微波是非离子化的，电子设备是低成本和紧凑的，所需的压缩不会引起疼痛，敏感性受组织密度的影响较小，并且可以将设备部署在家庭诊所中。这将使乳腺癌的筛查更加可及且更有效，因为与50岁及以上的女性相比，检查一次检查的频率比目前的一次考试率更高。鉴于增加人口的增加，可访问性尤为重要。 ***团队包括Nikolova教授（微波成像专家，高频电子和天线设计），Noseworthy教授（医学物理学家和医学成像专家）和Chen教授（模拟集成电路设计的专家）。该团队在成像，医学诊断和射频设计方面的综合经验涵盖了超过四十年的国际认可的研究。