Multi-modal, multi-parametric automatic breast ultrasound scanner

超声波医疗公司（Richmond， BC）的自动乳房超声系统（ABUS）是一种专门的扫描仪，可以在几分钟内获得整个乳房的独立于操作员的三维（3D）超声图像。在检查过程中，病人面朝下躺在一张床上，床上有一个圆顶，与被检查的乳房吻合。通过在穹顶周围旋转超声换能器，自动获得三维超声图像。图像采集的参数，如换能器旋转步长，成像深度，成像类型-常规b模式或多普勒-用于临床，可以选择。此外，可以收集未经处理的超声回波数据，从而可以设计特定的成像方法。在这项资助下，我们建议基于超声回波数据开发两种额外的成像方法：定量弹性成像，它将测量乳房弹性，从而提供一种自动、客观的方法来发现乳房肿块的特征；光声成像，它将用于确定乳房中血液浓度较高的区域，以及氧浓度较低的区域。此外，我们建议将现有的成像技术结合在一个单一的注册数据集中，这将允许基于计算机的分类技术的发展，这将能够准确地检测癌症。到目前为止，只有一个ABUS系统在超声之外使用，它的用途是使用常规超声成像的临床研究。我们的工作将解决独特的技术挑战，这将导致乳腺癌筛查的替代成像技术。

The automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS) system from Ultrasonix Medical Corp (Richmond, BC) is a specialized scanner that can acquire operator-independent three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound images of the entire breast in a few minutes. During the examination, the patient lies face down on a bed that has a dome in which the examined breast fits. A 3D ultrasound image is acquired automatically by rotating an ultrasound transducer around the dome. The parameters of the image acquisition, such as the transducer rotation steps, depth of imaging, imaging type - conventional B-mode or Doppler - as used in the clinic, can be selected. In addition, unprocessed ultrasound echo data can be collected that enabling the design of specific imaging method.Under this grant, we propose to develop two additional imaging methods based on the ultrasound echo data: quantitative elastography, which will measure breast elasticity, thus providing an automated, objective way of finding an characterizing breast lumps, and photoacoustic imaging, which will be used to determine the regions of higher blood concentration in the breast, as well as the regions of lower oxygen concentration. In addition, we propose to combine existing imaging techniques in a single registered data set that will allow the development of computer-based classification techniques that will be able to accurately detect cancer. To date, there is a single ABUS system in use outside Ultrasonix, and its use is for clinical research using conventional ultrasound imaging. Our work will address unique technical challenges that will lead to alternative imaging techniques for breast cancer screening.