SBIR Phase II: High Resolution Terahertz Video Camera for Medical Imaging

该小型企业创新研究第二阶段项目将开发和推出一种新的、商业上可行的太赫兹（THz）成像技术，最初针对医疗成像应用。 原型仪器使用THz反射成像现象学，这是一种已被证明可以有效区分健康和患病组织的技术。该系统的分辨率超过300 x300像素，操作速度在每秒10-30帧之间，外形紧凑，适用于癌症手术等医疗环境，包括胶质母细胞瘤切除术。 太赫兹相机将成为医疗成像市场的新成员，该市场已经成熟，X射线，MRI，可见光和红外技术达到450亿美元。这款新仪器采用了大尺寸传感器阵列，该传感器阵列采用了已在大批量铸造厂实施的低成本制造工艺。除了医疗应用之外，类似的成像系统还可以用于安全筛查应用（20亿美元市场/年），例如机场的乘客筛查。 更广泛地说，底层传感器技术可以适用于极宽的THz频谱，这对许多行业都有影响。 该项目的智力价值主要是其集成了太赫兹成像的高分辨率和高速方面，因为这些能力尚未以商业上可行的形式得到证明。以前的演示要么涉及慢扫描系统，排除了真实的时间应用或相机的目标是更高的波段的太赫兹频谱。后一个限制源于无法制造大像素阵列以在较长的THz波长下成像。 超越了一种实验室概念实验的证明，太赫兹相机寻求提供与实际应用相关的分辨率和帧更新速率。感测元件的商业制造可行性可以确保超出初始医疗市场的应用将是实用的。 该相机不仅具有250-350 GHz频谱附近的高分辨率THz成像功能，而且还集成了高分辨率可见光和近红外相机，可以补充THz视频，并计划在医院使用。 除了临床使用场景外，该成像系统还可适用于机场安检和其他筛查应用，因为便携性和易用性将指导演示系统的设计。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop and launch a new, commercially viable terahertz (THz) imaging technology initially targeted at medical imaging applications. The prototype instrument uses THz reflective imaging phenomenology, a technique that has been shown to efficiently discriminate between healthy and diseased tissues. With a resolution of more than 300x300 pixels, operation at between 10-30 frames per second, and a compact form factor, the system is appropriate for medical environments such as cancer surgeries, including glioblastoma resection. The THz camera will be a new addition to the medical imaging market that has matured with x-ray, MRI, visible and infrared technologies to reach $45 billion. This new instrument is enabled by a large format sensor array that uses a low-cost manufacturing process already implemented in a high-volume foundry. In addition to the medical application, similar imaging systems can be used in security screening applications ($2 billion market/year) such as passenger screening at airports. More broadly, the underlying sensor technology can be adapted for use across the extremely wide THz spectrum, which has implications for many industries. The intellectual merit of this project is primarily its integration of both high resolution and high-speed aspects of THz imaging, as these capabilities have not yet been demonstrated in a commercially viable form. Previous demonstrations have either involved slow scanning systems that preclude real time applications or cameras that target much higher bands of the THz spectrum. The latter restriction stems from an inability to manufacture arrays of large pixels to image at the longer THz wavelengths. Going beyond one of a kind laboratory proof of concept experiments, the THz camera seeks to provide resolution and frame update rates that are relevant to actual applications. The commercial manufacturing viability of the sensing element may ensure that applications beyond the initial medical market will be practical. The camera will feature not only the high-resolution THz imaging near the 250-350 GHz spectrum but also incorporate high-resolution visible and near-infrared cameras that can complement the THz video, with trials being planned for hospital usage. In addition to clinical usage scenarios, the imaging system can be adapted for use in airport security and other screening applications, as portability and ease of use will guide the demonstration system design.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.