Tactile and Ultrasonic Imaging for Next Generation Breast Cancer Screening

关于乳腺TI诊断/筛查潜力的临床数据表明，它优于临床乳腺检查，与乳房x光检查相当或优于乳房x光检查。TI的优点包括固有的低成本、易用性、便携性、无电离辐射和最低的培训要求。由赞助商PPS （www.pressureprofile.com）开发的系统目前正在由Bexa （www.mybexa.com）商业化。触觉成像非常适合筛查潜在病变，但在区分良性囊肿和肿瘤方面受到限制。超声成像的针对性太强，无法对乳房进行全面扫描，但可以区分囊肿和肿瘤，从而减少了活检的需要。本博士将研究应力（触觉）和应变（超声波）的融合，以优化乳腺癌筛查。项目目标包括：1)了解使用触觉成像和超声成像的乳房成像技术的最新进展。2)开发结合TI发现和超声诊断病变的程序和算法3)开发混合超声/触觉想象传感器模块并演示概念4)在基础上研究结合应力（TI）和应变（超声波）的方法/算法，以提高诊断能力

Clinical data on the diagnostic/screening potential of breast TI indicate that it is superior to the clinical breast exam and comparable or superior to mammography. Advantages of TI include inherently low cost, ease-of-use, portability, no ionising radiation, and minimal training requirements. A system developed by the sponsor PPS (www.pressureprofile.com), is currently being commercialised by Bexa (www.mybexa.com). Tactile imaging is well suited screening for potential lesions, but is limited in differentiating benign cysts and tumours. Ultrasonic imaging is too targeted to perform a global scan of the breast, but can differentiate between cysts and tumours, reducing the need for biopsy. This PhD will investigate the fusion of stress (tactile) and strain (ultrasonic) to optimise breast cancer screening. Project aims include:1) Understand the state of the art in breast imaging using tactile imaging and ultrasonic imaging. 2) Develop procedures and algorithms that use a combination of TI to find and ultrasound to diagnose lesions3) Develop a hybrid ultrasonic/tactile imagine sensor module and demonstrate the concept4) Investigate methods/algorithms of combining stress (TI) and strain (ultrasound) at a fundamental level to enhance diagnosis capability