IThe long-term scientific aim of this project is to develop an ultrawideband (UWB) space-time microwave imaging method for early-stage breast cancer detection. The combination of robust space-time signal processing techniques and low-power UWB microwave radar techniques offers the promise of a highly sensitive breast cancer screening tool. UWB sensing systems take advantage of the features of both lower and higher frequencies, thereby providing sufficient penetration into Iossy biological tissue and spatial (and temporal) resolution. Furthermore, super-resolution - that is, imaging resolution that overcomes the classical diffraction limit - can be achieved with UWB signals in conjunction with array-based transmitters and receivers. The goal of the proposed work is to bring about fundamental advances in UWB microwave based detection, classification, monitoring, and imaging techniques, including the design and implementation of a pre-clinical prototype imaging system and the evaluation of this novel approach using anthropomorphic breast phantoms that mimic the configuration of the patient in the clinical setting. The research will culminate with in vivo imaging studies on human research subjects. The following technical aims will be pursued to accomplish this goal: 1) To develop advanced space-time signal-processing algorithms that can be applied to UWB microwave scattered signals for the 3-D detection, imaging, classification, and monitoring of malignant breast lesions. 2) To characterize and refine the performance of our UWB imaging techniques using anatomically realistic numerical breast models and anthropomorphic physical breast tissue phantoms in conjunction with our first-and second-generation hardware prototype systems. 3) To construct a second-generation, pre-clinical prototype system suitable for in vivo imaging studies. 4) To conduct initial in vivo imaging studies with human research subjects using the pre-clinical prototype system. Successful completion of these aims will provide compelling evidence of efficacy, permit subsequent development of a microwave breast imaging system suitable for clinical trials, and lead to the establishment of low-power UWB microwave imaging as a clinically relevant non-ionizing, non-invasive tool for breast cancer detection/screening and monitoring. The predicted safety, comfort (no breast compression), ease-of-use and low-cost features should improve public compliance with annual screening recommendations.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA112398-04
Application #
7362438
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SBIB-L (90))
Program Officer
Menkens, Anne E
Project Start
2005-04-01
Project End
2010-02-28
Budget Start
2008-03-01
Budget End
2009-02-28
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$200,138
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Shea, Jacob D; Van Veen, Barry D; Hagness, Susan C (2012) A TSVD analysis of microwave inverse scattering for breast imaging. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 59:936-45
Aguilar, Suzette M; Shea, Jacob D; Al-Joumayly, Mudar A et al. (2012) Dielectric characterization of PCL-based thermoplastic materials for microwave diagnostic and therapeutic applications. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 59:627-33
Mashal, Alireza; Gao, Fuqiang; Hagness, Susan C (2011) Heterogeneous Anthropomorphic Phantoms with Realistic Dielectric Properties for Microwave Breast Imaging Experiments. Microw Opt Technol Lett 53:1896-1902
Winters, David W; Van Veen, Barry D; Hagness, Susan C (2010) A Sparsity Regularization Approach to the Electromagnetic Inverse Scattering Problem. IEEE Trans Antennas Propag 58:145-154
Shea, J D; Kosmas, P; Van Veen, B D et al. (2010) Contrast-enhanced microwave imaging of breast tumors: a computational study using 3-D realistic numerical phantoms. Inverse Probl 26:74009
Zastrow, Earl; Hagness, Susan C; Van Veen, Barry D (2010) 3D computational study of non-invasive patient-specific microwave hyperthermia treatment of breast cancer. Phys Med Biol 55:3611-29
Al-Joumayly, Mudar A; Aguilar, Suzette M; Behdad, Nader et al. (2010) Dual-Band Miniaturized Patch Antennas for Microwave Breast Imaging. IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 9:268
Shea, Jacob D; Kosmas, Panagiotis; Hagness, Susan C et al. (2010) Three-dimensional microwave imaging of realistic numerical breast phantoms via a multiple-frequency inverse scattering technique. Med Phys 37:4210-26
Mashal, Alireza; Sitharaman, Balaji; Li, Xu et al. (2010) Toward carbon-nanotube-based theranostic agents for microwave detection and treatment of breast cancer: enhanced dielectric and heating response of tissue-mimicking materials. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 57:1831-4
Mashal, Alireza; Booske, John H; Hagness, Susan C (2009) Toward contrast-enhanced microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging of breast cancer: an experimental study of the effects of microbubbles on simple thermoacoustic targets. Phys Med Biol 54:641-50

Showing the most recent 10 out of 14 publications