Electronically Switched Imaging Array for Breast-Cancer Screening

该项目的目标是制造和测试用于乳腺癌筛查的微波成像原型。它还包括一个新的超宽带接收器芯片的开发。该原型预期用于乳房检查，其设置类似于乳房X线摄影，即，乳房将被放置在包含成像天线阵列的两个平板之间。仅施加轻微压缩，以确保测量期间无运动。该原型将在乳房组织模型上进行测试，为未来的患者临床试验做准备。 所要求的设备将支持根植于我们最近三项进展的研究：（i）在真实的时间内产生高质量定量图像的图像重建方法，（ii）可以在大动态范围内收集数据的成像仪器，以及（iii）可以补偿不可预测的患者特定环境的校准策略。除了这些功能外，拟议的系统架构将允许在几分钟内完成测量，从而为临床部署的突破奠定基础。*** 这项研究的潜在影响是巨大的，不仅对癌症诊断，而且对微波成像的各种应用。在乳腺癌筛查方面，它将为乳房X光检查和超声波检查提供急需的补充。乳房X光检查作为主要的筛查工具有严重的缺点：X射线是电离的，购买和维护成本高，乳房压迫是痛苦的，在放射学上致密的乳房中的灵敏度低，并且部署仅限于少数癌症中心，几乎总是远离小城镇和农村地区。相比之下，微波是非电离的，电子设备是低成本和紧凑的，所需的压缩不会引起疼痛，灵敏度受组织密度的影响较小，并且该设备可以部署在家庭诊所中。这将使乳腺癌筛查变得更容易和更有效，因为检查可以比目前50岁及以上妇女每两年检查一次的频率更频繁。鉴于人口老龄化的增加，无障碍环境尤为重要。*** 该团队包括Nikolova教授（微波成像，高频电子和天线设计专家），Noseworthy教授（医学物理学家和医学成像专家）和Chen教授（模拟集成电路设计专家）。该团队在成像、医疗诊断和射频设计方面的综合经验跨越了四十多年的国际公认研究。 该项目将为跨学科的研究人员和学生提供独特的培训机会，使他们接触微波设计，制造和系统集成，沿着微波和医学成像方法。

The project's objective is to fabricate and test a microwave-imaging prototype for breast-cancer screening. It also includes the development of a new ultra-wideband receiver chip. The prototype is intended for breast examination in a setting similar to that in mammography, i.e., the breast will be placed between two flat plates which contain the imaging antenna arrays. Only slight compression will be applied to ensure lack of motion during measurement. The prototype will be tested on breast-tissue phantoms in preparation for future clinical trials with patients.*** The requested equipment will support research rooted in three of our recent advances: (i) image-reconstruction methods that produce high-quality quantitative images in real time, (ii) imaging instrumentation that can collect data over a large dynamic range, and (iii) calibration strategies that can compensate for the unpredictable patient-specific environment. In addition to these capabilities, the proposed system architecture will allow for the completion of the measurements within minutes, thus setting the stage for a breakthrough toward clinical deployment. *** The potential impact of this research is great, not only for cancer diagnostics but for a wide variety of applications of microwave imaging. In breast-cancer screening, it will provide much needed complementarity to mammography and ultrasound. Mammography the primary screening tool has serious shortcomings: X-rays are ionizing, purchase and maintenance costs are high, breast compression is painful, sensitivity in radiologically dense breasts is low, and deployment is limited to a few cancer centers, almost always located far from small towns and rural areas. In contrast, microwaves are nonionizing, the electronics is low-cost and compact, the required compression cannot cause pain, sensitivity is less affected by the tissue density, and the apparatus can be deployed in family clinics. This will make breast-cancer screening accessible and more effective, since check-ups can be conducted more frequently than the current rate of one exam every 2 years for women aged 50 years and older. Accessibility is particularly important in view of the increase of the aging population. *** The team includes Prof. Nikolova (expert on microwave imaging, high-frequency electronics and antenna design), Prof. Noseworthy (medical physicist and an expert on medical imaging), and Prof. Chen (expert on analog integrated circuit design). The team's combined experience in imaging, medical diagnostics and radio-frequency design spans more than four decades of internationally recognized research.*** The project will provide unique training opportunities for an interdisciplinary group of researchers and students with exposure to microwave design, fabrication, and system integration, along with microwave and medical imaging methods.