There are significant opportunities for developing low cost imaging modalities for localized cancer therapy monitoring and assessment that could serve to improve clinical outcomes. The principal hypothesis, which underpins this project, is that near-field microwave imaging can provide new forms of moderately resolved (5-10mm) spatial information which will positively influence clinical decision making in the therapy setting. The central themes for the proposed renewal period are (i) to complete the development and evaluation of 3D microwave imaging methods, (ii) to integrate ultrasound-heating technology with the imaging system, and (iii) to exploit the broadband spectral information in the acquired data. These themes lead to the hypotheses that (a) 3D methods are critical to accurate microwave imaging of tissue and can be realized in a practical form, (b) ultrasound heating technology can be integrated with the existing fixed array imaging design without compromising either the heating capabilities or the imaging performance, and (c) broadband spectral data improves data calibration, image reconstruction and tissue discrimination.
The specific aims that will be pursued during the proposed continuation period to test these hypotheses are: (1) Development of 3D data acquisition, (2) Development of 3D image reconstruction which includes a number of advanced computational enhancement strategies, (3) Integration of the imaging array with scanned focused ultrasound, and (4) Experimental optimization of 3D microwave imaging using laboratory phantom studies and in vivo animal model systems to quantify static/dynamic imaging performance under conditions of therapeutic temperature elevation, thermally-induced lesions and ionizing radiation-induced reactions. If successful, this work would substantially advance the current state-of-the-art in medical microwave imaging technology paving the way for future studies at the clinical scale.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EB001982-13
Application #
7083599
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SSS-7 (02))
Program Officer
Lopez, Hector
Project Start
1992-08-07
Project End
2008-06-30
Budget Start
2006-07-01
Budget End
2007-06-30
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$291,909
Indirect Cost
Name
Dartmouth College
Department
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
041027822
City
Hanover
State
NH
Country
United States
Zip Code
03755
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Meaney, Paul M; Fang, Qianqian; Rubaek, Tonny et al. (2007) Log transformation benefits parameter estimation in microwave tomographic imaging. Med Phys 34:2014-23