MR Microwave Absorption and Tomography Imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：目前用于乳腺癌检测和诊断的成像方法不完善，特别是在由致密乳房的年轻女性组成的高危人群中。该分阶段创新奖（R21/R33）的申请提出了以磁共振（MR）为中心的新技术集成，结合微波方法，产生两个新概念，称为磁共振微波吸收（MRMA）成像和磁共振兼容微波断层扫描（MRMT），最初针对乳腺疾病成像。MRMA利用MR来测量由局部微波功率吸收引起的热弹性波响应，而MRMT利用MR来生成共配准的几何/解剖信息作为微波断层扫描（MT）中的图像重建的先验。根据R21可行性研究的某些结果，预计将使用单一的MRMA + MRMT成像平台，尽管存在并行开发MRMA和MRMT的退出策略，但作为单独的系统，或仅单独使用其中一种技术。可行性包括（1）微波诱导热弹性响应的某些光谱分量的MR检测，（2）包括复合成像技术的加热和传感子系统的电磁兼容性，以及（3）子系统元件的物理布局，这些子系统元件将容纳在标准临床磁体孔内可用于乳房成像的有限空间中。研究的R33阶段侧重于使用成像概念实现数据采集硬件、图像重建软件、体模测试和初始临床检查，这些成像概念被证明是可行的，最终目标是实现MRMA和MRMT原理的单一集成。如果成功的话，这项工作有可能为高危女性群体的乳腺癌检测和诊断提供新的成像策略。

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.