MR Microwave Absorption and Tomography Imaging

描述(申请人提供)：目前用于乳腺癌检测和诊断的成像方法并不完善，特别是在由乳房致密的年轻女性组成的高危群体中。这项阶段性创新奖的申请(R21/R33)提出了以磁共振(MR)为中心的新技术集成，并结合微波方法产生了两个新概念，即磁共振微波吸收成像(MRMA)和磁共振兼容微波断层扫描(MRMT)，最初旨在为乳腺疾病成像。MRMA利用MR测量局部微波功率吸收引起的热弹性波响应，而MRMT利用MR产生共同记录的几何/解剖信息，作为微波断层成像(MT)图像重建的先验信息。根据R21可行性研究的某些结果，预计会有一个单一的MRMA+MRMT成像平台，尽管存在并行开发MRMA和MRMT的退出战略，但作为独立的系统，或仅针对其中一种或另一种技术。可行性包括：(1)对微波诱导的热弹性反应的某些光谱成分进行MR检测，(2)组成复合成像技术的加热和传感子系统的电磁兼容性，以及(3)在标准临床磁铁的孔内可用于乳房成像的有限空间中容纳的子系统元件的物理布局。R33阶段的研究重点是实施数据采集硬件、图像重建软件、体模测试和使用被证明可行的成像概念的初步临床检查，最终目标是实现MRMA和MRMT原则的单一集成。如果成功，这项工作有可能导致在高危女性群体中检测和诊断乳腺癌的新的成像策略。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Current imaging methods for breast cancer detection and diagnosis are imperfect, especially in high-risk groups composed of younger women with dense breasts. This application for a phased innovation award (R21/R33) proposes novel technology integration centered on magnetic resonance (MR) in combination with microwave methods to produce two new concepts termed Magnetic Resonance Microwave Absorption (MRMA) imaging and Magnetic Resonance-compatible Microwave Tomography (MRMT) initially targeted at imaging breast disease. MRMA exploits MR to measure a thermoelastic wave response induced by local microwave power absorption whereas MRMT utilizes MR to generate coregistered geometrical/anatomical information as priors for image reconstruction in microwave tomography (MT). Depending on certain outcomes from the R21 feasibility studies, a single MRMA + MRMT imaging platform is anticipated, although exit strategies exist for developing MRMA and MRMT in parallel but as separate systems, or for only one or the other of the techniques, alone. Feasibility includes demonstration of (1) MR detection of certain spectral components of the microwave-induced thermoelastic response, (2) electromagnetic compatibility of the heating and sensing subsystems which comprise the composite imaging technique, and (3) physical layout of subsystem elements that would be accommodated in the limited space available for breast imaging within the bore of a standard clinical magnet. The R33 stage of investigation focuses on implementation of data acquisition hardware, image reconstruction software, phantom testing and initial clinical exams using the imaging concepts which prove feasible with the end-goal of realizing a single integration of the MRMA and MRMT principles. If successful, this work offers the potential to lead to novel imaging strategies for breast cancer detection and diagnosis in high-risk groups of women.