Novel Radio-Frequency (RF)-Modulated Near Infrared (NIR) Electro-Optic Phased Array Imaging Systems

本研究的目的是开发和研究一种新的低成本，宽带，射频调制的近红外成像检测乳腺癌的集成系统。该方法是设计一种新型的电光二元相控阵系统，具有高的空间分辨率，以获得准确的信息，乳房组织的光散射和吸收特性。智能优点：新的成像系统方法将显著扩展非侵入性光学断层扫描方法的能力。这项研究的一个关键创新是在发射侧使用两个源，每个源包括近红外光谱范围内的多波长激光二极管阵列，以增强对高吸收组织内容物（例如，血红蛋白）并最小化错误检测。因此，新系统有望提高断层重建的可靠性和准确性，显着提高组织的光学特性的空间分辨率，引入深度切片的能力，用于3-D成像，并准确地提取高吸收组织结构的光学内容。功耗和形状因数的显著降低将使成像系统适合于便携式使用。更广泛的影响：这项研究的技术突破有望为医学界提供新的方法来检测/诊断乳腺癌的早期发展阶段。外形尺寸、功耗和成本的降低将使成像系统更广泛地应用于世界各地的医院和个人。该研究项目将在多学科环境中吸引研究生和本科生，支持对代表性不足的群体的学生开展外联活动，并促进工业和多学科合作。

The objective of this research is to develop and investigate a new low-cost, broadband, RF-modulated near-infrared imaging integrated system for detecting breast cancer. The approach is to design a novel electro-optic two-element phased-array system with high spatial resolution to obtain accurate information about the breast tissue's optical scattering and absorption properties. Intellectual Merit: The new imaging system approach will significantly expand the capabilities of non-invasive optical tomography methods. A key innovation of this research is the use of two sources at the transmit side, each comprising an array of multi-wavelength laser diodes in the near-infrared spectral range, to enhance the sensitivity to highly absorptive tissue content (e.g., hemoglobin) and minimize false detection. As a result, the new system is expected to enhance the reliability and accuracy of tomographic reconstruction, significantly improve the spatial resolution of the tissue's optical properties, introduce depth-sectioning capability useful for 3-D imaging, and accurately extract the optical content of the high absorption tissue structures. Significant reduction in power consumption and form factor will make the imaging system suitable for portable use. Broader Impacts: The technological breakthroughs of this research are expected to help provide the medical community with new ways to detect/diagnose breast cancer at a very early stage of development. Reductions in form factor, power, and cost will make imaging systems more widely available to hospitals and individuals across the world. The research project will engage graduate and undergraduate students in a multidisciplinary environment, support outreach activities to students from underrepresented groups and foster industrial and multidisciplinary collaborations.