Real-Time In Vivo Image Reconstruction and Processing for Effective Analysis of Tissue Microstructure

Diagnostic Photonics, Inc., Chicago IL

Investigators

Abstract

In vivo medical imaging is an indispensable tool in the screening, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and monitoring of cancer and a host of other diseases. However, the full potential of these technologies has been severely limited by image processing time and memory management of large 3-D data sets. This problem was addressed in Phase I of this work. In Phase II, new imaging capabilities and modes of use for 3-D imaging enabled by the Phase I advances will be made available. Utilizing principles of physics in conjunction with computer science, 3-D real-time images of tissue microstructure will be generated from large, high-resolution ISAM data sets. A GUI will be developed to make the wealth of information in these reconstructions accessible for analysis by physicians. Important new image data sensitive to microscopic-scale motions and orientation-dependent collagen fibril structure, specifically Doppler and polarization-sensitive microscopic imaging, will also be processed in real-time and made available through the GUI. These efforts will be applied in the clinic to improve outcomes for patients undergoing breast conserving surgery for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. More broadly, these tools will advance medical imaging by providing new methods of real-time 3-D image construction, analysis, and display.