Continuous noninvasive tissue temperature monitoring inside of the human body during hyperthermia based on ultra-wideband microwave sensing

这个德国和捷克的研究项目（与布拉格CTU的Jan Vrba教授合作）旨在通过超宽带（UWB）微波传感技术开发一种非侵入性的人体内部连续组织温度测量和成像技术。这样的系统在临床上具有重要意义，特别是在热疗期间的温度监测。以前提出的无创体温测量方法目前还不能在临床工作流程中建立。这就是为什么侵入式温度探头尽管存在相关风险，但仍在使用。该项目的目标是一种新的非侵入性方法，利用温度依赖组织介电常数在非常宽的频率范围内（约6 GHz）分别进行温度测量和估计。设想的主要应用领域是热疗。除此之外，本项目旨在推动这种低成本、紧凑的传感器技术在非侵入性临床组织温度监测中的应用。为解决这一创新任务，将讨论以下主题：-组织，组织仿制品和磁性纳米颗粒（MNP）悬浮液的温度相关介电微波光谱-超宽带测量系统的概念设计（特别是天线设计）和工作条件的优化(极化，-提取和分析温度依赖的超宽带特征-开发实时信号处理，用于组织内部温度变化的鲁棒检测和量化，考虑到漂移、运动伪影、组织异质性和灌注-均匀和非均匀幻象中温度分布的3D成像

This German-Czech research project (cooperation with Prof. Jan Vrba, CTU Prague) aims for the development of a non-invasive continuous tissue temperature measurement and imaging technique inside the human body by means of ultra-wideband (UWB) microwave sensing. Such systems are of utmost clinical importance, especially for temperature monitoring during hyperthermia. Previously proposed approaches of non-invasive temperature measurement could not be established in the clinical workflow so far. That is why invasive temperature probes are still in use despite their associated risks. The goal of this project is a new non-invasive method exploiting the temperature dependent tissue permittivity over a very broad frequency range (about 6 GHz) for temperature measurement and estimation, respectively. The primary envisaged application field is hyperthermia treatment. Beyond that, this project aims to contribute to force the application of this cost efficient and compact sensor technology for non-invasive accurate clinical tissue temperature monitoring in general.The following topics will be addressed to solve this innovative task:- Temperature dependent dielectric microwave spectroscopy of tissue, tissue imitates and magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) suspensions- Conceptual design of the UWB measurement system (especially antenna design) and optimization of working conditions (polarization, bandwidth) for use during microwave hyperthermia treatment- Extraction and analysis of temperature dependent UWB signatures- Development of real-time capable signal processing for robust detection and quantification of temperature changes inside of tissue considering drift, movement artifacts, tissue heterogeneity and perfusion- 3D imaging of temperature distribution in homogeneous and heterogeneous phantoms