SBIR Phase I: 4-Dimensional Optical Tissue Imaging by Variable Digital Illumination

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将导致利用新的光学照明和捕获技术提取深层组织生理图像的方法和系统。解决的问题是有效和及时地分析深层组织的生理过程及其对人类健康、伤口形成和愈合的相应影响的挑战。机会是提供一种负担得起和可获得的手段，以定量的方式确定关键组织特征，从而导致更好的临床指导和更知情的护理决策。该研究将识别一组数字照明条件，定义基于模型的传递函数，然后将这些转换函数结合起来构建深度分辨生理图像地图。将对照明图案进行建模和评估，表示图案密度、对称性、几何形状和覆盖周期的各种组合。生成的图像地图和用例将与已建立的临床指标进行比较，以进行验证。该项目应形成提取深度分辨生理图像的最终方法。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是利用一种新的非接触式、光学照明和成像方式来建立负担得起和可获得的使用点诊断工具，以深入了解否则无法获得的生理过程。这项创新将加强对潜在生理学、血流动力学、弥散组织光学、信号处理、临床理解和护理之间相互关系的科学和技术理解。由可变组织深度生理成像实现的产品包括用于有效诊断和治疗数百万美国人的工具，这些美国人每年都会受到癌症、烧伤、压疮或皮肤转移引起的衰弱皮肤状况的影响。与此同时，护理提供者将通过更有效地识别伤口来实现降低劳动力成本和责任。该项目在实时、非侵入性光学成像系统方面的技术进步将为老年和经济上处于不利地位的患者提供特别的好处，否则他们将受到适当诊断机会的减少。由此产生的产品应使社会各阶层更容易获得更好的临床信息，这些信息可用于防止虚弱的伤口并使伤口能够更有效地愈合。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will lead to methodologies and systems that extract deep tissue physiological images utilizing novel optical illumination and capture technology. The problem addressed is the challenge of effective and timely analysis of deep tissue physiological processes and their corresponding impact upon human health, wound formation and healing. The opportunity is to provide an affordable and accessible means of identifying critical tissue characteristics in a quantitative fashion thus leading to better clinical guidance and more informed care decisions. The research will identify a set of digital illumination conditions, define model-based transfer functions, and then combine these to construct depth resolved physiological image maps. Illumination patterns will be modeled and evaluated representing a variety of combinations of pattern density, symmetry, geometry and coverage cycles. The resulting image maps and use cases will be compared with established clinical metrics for validation. The project shall lead to a definitive means for extracting depth resolved physiological images.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to establish affordable and accessible point of use diagnostic tools utilizing a novel non-contact, optical illumination and imaging modality to gain insights into otherwise non-accessible physiological processes. The innovation will enhance the scientific and technological understanding of the inter-relationships between underlying physiology, hemodynamics, diffuse tissue optics, signal processing, clinical understanding and care. Products to be enabled by variable tissue depth physiological imaging include tools for the effective diagnosis and treatment of the millions of Americans that are impacted annually by debilitating skin conditions caused by cancers, burns, pressure sores or skin transfers. At the same time care providers will realize reduced labor costs and liabilities through more effective identification of wounds. The project's technology advances in real-time, non-invasive optical imaging systems will provide particular benefits to elderly and economically disadvantaged patients who would otherwise suffer from reduced access to adequate diagnosis. Resulting products shall provide greater accessibility to all segments of society to better clinical information that can be used to prevent debilitating wounds and enable more effective wound healing.