Diamond quantum sensor-based breast cancer detection apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a diamond quantum sensor-based breast cancer detection apparatus. The apparatus comprises a fluorescence reading apparatus, a microwave generation control apparatus, a laser generation control apparatus, a calculation control system, and a medical diagnosis station. A diamond microwave sensing probe in the medical diagnosis station is configured for radiating detecting microwaves to a target to be tested, and a camera is configured for photographing an image of said target and sending the image to the calculation control system. The microwave generation control apparatus is configured for generating a control microwave input into the diamond microwave sensing probe. The laser generation control apparatus is configured for generating a laser input into the diamond microwave sensing probe. The calculation control system is configured for calculating the intensity of a microwave scattered by said target and solving for the distribution of dielectric properties in said target. In the present invention, the NV center in diamond is used as a probe to measure a microwave field, so that high-sensitivity and high-spatial-resolution microwave imaging of cancerous tissue in mammary tissue can be realized.

Description

A breast cancer detection device based on diamond quantum sensor Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of signal detection technology, and in particular to a breast cancer detection device based on a diamond quantum sensor. Background Art

[0002] Breast cancer ranks first in incidence among malignant tumors among Chinese women, and late-stage cancer carries a very high mortality rate. In recent years, the incidence of breast cancer among Chinese women has been on the rise. Early screening for breast cancer and rapid, accurate diagnosis can significantly reduce breast cancer mortality and improve patient survival. Therefore, a safe, sensitive, high-resolution, and affordable breast cancer detection method is needed.

[0003] Breast X-rays are currently the primary imaging screening method, but they are susceptible to ionizing radiation damage and have low sensitivity for dense breasts. Breast ultrasound does not emit ionizing radiation and is suitable for dense breasts, but its sensitivity and resolution are low. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology has extremely high sensitivity and resolution and is free of ionizing radiation damage, but it requires the subject to remain still due to long measurement times, otherwise artifacts will be generated, affecting the accuracy of the test results. Furthermore, MRI technology is extremely expensive, making it unsuitable for early screening of breast cancer.

[0004] Breast microwave imaging, a non-ionizing radiation-free detection method, theoretically offers high sensitivity and resolution at a moderate cost, making it ideal for early breast cancer screening. However, existing microwave breast cancer detection technologies based on traditional electromagnetic induction still have room for improvement in sensitivity and resolution. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a breast cancer detection device based on a diamond quantum sensor to improve the sensitivity and resolution of the breast cancer detection device.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a breast cancer detection device based on a diamond quantum sensor, comprising:

[0007] Fluorescence readout device, microwave generation control device, laser generation control device, computer control system and medical diagnostic table;

[0008] The medical diagnostic platform includes a diamond microwave sensor probe and a camera. The diamond microwave sensor probe is used to radiate detection microwaves to the target to be measured at different detection positions and measure the microwave signals scattered by the target to be measured. The camera is used to capture images of the target to be measured at different detection positions and transmit the images to the computing control system.

[0009] The microwave generation control device is used to generate control microwaves input into the diamond microwave sensor probe, and the laser generation control device is used to generate lasers input into the diamond microwave sensor probe;

[0010] The fluorescence readout device is used to collect the fluorescence signal emitted by the diamond microwave sensor probe and convert the fluorescence signal into an electrical signal and then input it into the computing control system;

[0011] The computational control system is used to calculate the intensity of microwaves scattered by the target based on changes in the fluorescence signal, and to inversely analyze the distribution of dielectric properties within the target based on the relative positions of the diamond microwave sensor probe and the target at different detection positions, as well as images captured by the camera, to determine whether the target contains cancerous tissue.

[0012] Optionally, the medical diagnostic table further includes a displacement pitch adjustment device and a hole for placing the target to be measured; the displacement pitch adjustment device is used to adjust the detection position of the diamond microwave sensor probe so that the camera can capture images of the target to be measured at each detection position.

[0013] Optionally, the diamond microwave sensing probe includes a diamond probe, a microwave radiation device and a light guide structure;

[0014] The microwave radiation device is used to receive the control microwaves input by the microwave generation control device and radiate microwaves to the target to be measured; the light guide structure is used to conduct the input laser to the diamond probe and output the collected fluorescence signal emitted by the diamond probe to the fluorescence readout device.

[0015] Optionally, the diamond probe is a nitrogen-vacancy color center in diamond.

[0016] The present invention utilizes the high sensitivity of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond to microwave fields, enabling high-sensitivity, high-spatial-resolution microwave imaging of cancerous tissue within breast tissue. The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] The microwave imaging technology used in the present invention has no ionizing radiation, moderate cost, high sensitivity and spatial resolution, and is very suitable for early screening of breast cancer.

[0018] The NV color center in diamond is a solid-state spin system. The present invention uses the solid-state spin system as a probe, which can overcome the shortcomings of traditional microwave imaging measurement methods and achieve high-sensitivity and high-spatial-resolution breast microwave imaging with moderate cost and high accuracy. It provides additional technical support and instrument equipment for early screening of breast cancer, and is expected to reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer in the future and further improve the survival rate of patients. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG1 is an overall structural diagram of a breast cancer detection device based on a diamond quantum sensor provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a diamond microwave sensor probe provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The technical solution of this embodiment is based on microwave imaging technology. Microwave imaging technology utilizes the fact that microwaves have different dielectric properties, such as conductivity and dielectric constant, in different physiological tissues and at different physiological states. By measuring the amplitude distribution of microwaves after scattering between tissues with different dielectric properties and combining it with an electromagnetic inverse solution algorithm, microwave imaging of body tissues is achieved. This method allows for non-destructive and non-invasive monitoring of physiological states within a living organism.

[0022] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It will be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are intended only to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. It should also be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings only illustrate portions relevant to the present invention, not all structures.

[0023] Example

[0024] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall structure of a breast cancer detection device based on a diamond quantum sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 1 , the device includes a fluorescence readout device, a microwave generation and control device, a laser generation and control device, a computer control system, and a medical diagnostic table.

[0025] The medical diagnostic table includes a hole for placing the patient's breast, a diamond microwave sensor probe, a displacement and pitch adjustment device, and a camera.

[0026] Optionally, the diamond probe in this embodiment is an NV color center in diamond. As a point defect in diamond, the NV color center has excellent coherence properties under room temperature and atmospheric conditions. Under the action of an external continuous laser, the NV color center will produce continuous fluorescence. If there is a microwave to be measured that matches the energy level of the NV color center at this time, the fluorescence of the NV color center will decrease, and the decrease is proportional to the square of the microwave amplitude. Furthermore, if a control microwave with an amplitude much larger than the amplitude of the microwave to be measured is actively applied, the amplitude of the NV color center caused by the microwave to be measured will decrease by the product of the amplitude of the microwave to be measured and the amplitude of the control microwave. Therefore, this method can be used to achieve high-sensitivity and high-resolution microwave imaging of breast tissue, thereby achieving the purpose of efficient early screening of breast cancer.

[0027] In addition, phosphorus silicon systems, gallium arsenide quantum dots, indium arsenide quantum dots, etc. can also be used as diamond probes.

[0028] Specifically, the diamond microwave sensor probe is used to radiate detection microwaves to the target to be measured at different detection positions and measure the microwave signals scattered by the target to be measured. The camera is used to capture images of the target to be measured at different detection positions and send them to the computing control system. The displacement and pitch adjustment device is used to adjust the detection position of the diamond microwave sensor probe so that the camera can capture images of the target to be measured at each different detection position.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, a camera is used in conjunction with a diamond microwave sensor probe. The image signal captured by the camera is used to record the morphology of the patient's breast and position the diamond microwave sensor probe. This method can reduce the complexity of the electromagnetic inverse solution problem, thereby providing more accurate measurement results.

[0030] Furthermore, the microwave generation control device is used to generate control microwaves input into the diamond microwave sensor probe, and the laser generation control device is used to generate laser light input into the diamond microwave sensor probe. Both the microwave generation control device and the laser generation control device are controlled by a computer control system.

[0031] The fluorescence readout device is used to collect the fluorescence signal emitted by the diamond microwave sensor probe and convert the fluorescence signal into an electrical signal and then input it into the computing control system.

[0032] In this embodiment, the computational control system calculates the microwave intensity scattered by the target based on the change in the fluorescence signal, and inversely analyzes the distribution of dielectric properties inside the target based on the relative positions of the diamond microwave sensor probe and the target at different detection positions, as well as the images captured by the camera, so as to determine whether the target contains cancerous tissue based on the distribution of dielectric properties inside the target.

[0033] The specific inverse solution steps in the computer control system are as follows:

[0034] Step 1: Without placing the target to be measured, use the diamond microwave sensor probe to measure the microwave intensity at each detection position, thereby obtaining information on the change of the fluorescence signal, transmitting it to the computer control system, and calculating the intrinsic microwave magnetic field intensity B at that position. inc ;

[0035] Step 2: After placing the target to be measured, use the diamond microwave sensor probe to measure the microwave intensity at each detection position of the target to be measured, thereby obtaining information on the change of the fluorescence signal and transmitting it to the computer control system to calculate the total microwave magnetic field intensity B at that position, the microwave magnetic field intensity B caused by the scattering of the target to be measured, and the total microwave magnetic field intensity B caused by the scattering of the target to be measured. scat is the difference between the total microwave magnetic field intensity and the intrinsic microwave magnetic field intensity;

[0036] Step 3: Record the relative position of the diamond microwave sensor probe and the target to be measured at each detection position, as well as the surface shape of the target to be measured, and transmit them to the computing control system to obtain the boundary conditions required for the calculation.

[0037] Step 4: The scattered microwave magnetic field intensity satisfies the magnetic field integral equations (MFIEs), which can be simply written as B = B inc +AB, where A is an operator that depends on the dielectric properties of the target to be measured, and the multiple groups of B and B obtained in steps 1 and 2 are inc The value of and the boundary constraints in step 3 can be used to inversely solve the distribution of the dielectric properties of the target to be measured. Based on the distribution of dielectric properties, it is possible to further determine whether cancerous tissue exists in the target to be measured. For example, cancerous tissue has higher conductivity and dielectric constant. If there is a concentration of high conductivity in the dielectric property distribution, there is a high probability of cancerous tissue at that location.

[0038] As further shown in Figure 2, the diamond microwave sensor probe comprises a diamond probe, a microwave radiating device, a light-guiding structure, and a frame structure that secures these components. The microwave radiating device receives incoming microwaves, radiates them toward the target, and provides the control microwaves required for the diamond probe's measurements. For example, the light-guiding structure can be an optical fiber, transmitting incoming laser light to the diamond probe and collecting the probe's fluorescence for output to a fluorescence readout. Under the influence of the laser and microwaves, the diamond probe can measure the microwaves scattered by the target. The intensity of the scattered microwaves can be read out as changes in the fluorescence signal.

[0039] The technical solution of this embodiment, thanks to the high sensitivity of the diamond quantum sensor to microwaves and its sub-wavelength detector size, can enable a breast cancer detection device using the diamond quantum sensor to have higher sensitivity and resolution.

[0040] Furthermore, this embodiment also provides a detection method for a breast cancer detection device based on a diamond quantum sensor, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0041] Step 1: Diamond NV probe preparation.

[0042] Step 2: Assemble the diamond microwave sensing probe, as shown in Figure 2. Use optical fiber as a light guide to connect the diamond probe. The light guide is used for laser transmission and fluorescence collection. Then, install and fix the microwave radiator so that the magnetic field direction of the generated control microwave is perpendicular to the surface of the diamond probe. Finally, use an external frame to secure the various components.

[0043] Step 3: Assemble the diamond quantum sensor-based breast cancer detection device. Secure the diamond microwave sensor assembled in Step 2 to the pitch adjustment mechanism. Place a camera parallel to the diamond microwave sensor probe to image and locate the probe's detection position. Mount the device on a medical diagnostic table with a hole. Next, connect the various components to implement the control and readout functions shown in Figure 1.

[0044] Step 4: Place the target to be measured in the hole and use ultrasonic gel as a coupling agent between the diamond microwave sensor probe and the target to be measured to reduce the reflection of the target surface.

[0045] Step 5: Adjust the fixed displacement pitch adjustment device so that the diamond microwave sensor probe faces the target to be measured.

[0046] Step 6: The camera takes a picture and transmits the image to the computer control system to obtain the relative position and angle between the diamond microwave sensor probe and the target to be measured, as well as the surface shape information of the target to be measured.

[0047] Step 7: The computer control system controls the continuous input of a laser with a wavelength of 532 nm and a microwave with a frequency of 2.87 GHz into the diamond microwave sensor probe, measures the decrease in the fluorescence signal caused by the microwaves scattered by the target to be measured, and thus calculates the intensity of the microwaves scattered by the target to be measured at that position.

[0048] Step 8: Adjust the displacement and pitch adjustment device again to change the position and angle of the diamond microwave sensor probe, and repeat steps 6 to 7 until all directions of the target are measured.

[0049] Step 9: Based on the microwave intensities scattered from all directions of the target obtained in the above steps, the surface shape information of the target is used as the boundary condition. According to the electromagnetic inverse algorithm, the distribution of the dielectric properties inside the target can be obtained. If the distribution is uniform, the probability of the presence of cancerous tissue is very low. Otherwise, there is a risk of cancer.

[0050] Note that the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and that various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A breast cancer detection device based on diamond quantum sensor, characterized in that: include: Fluorescence readout device, microwave generation control device, laser generation control device, computer control system and medical diagnosis table; The medical diagnosis table comprises a diamond microwave sensor probe and a camera, wherein the diamond microwave sensor probe is used to radiate detection microwaves to the target to be measured at different detection positions and measure microwave signals scattered by the target to be measured, and the camera is used to take images of the target to be measured at different detection positions and send them to the computing control system; The microwave generation control device is used to generate control microwaves input into the diamond microwave sensor probe, and the laser generation control device is used to generate lasers input into the diamond microwave sensor probe; The fluorescence reading device is used to collect the fluorescence signal emitted by the diamond microwave sensor probe and convert the fluorescence signal into an electrical signal and then input it into the computing control system; The computing control system is used to calculate the microwave intensity scattered by the target to be measured according to the change of the fluorescence signal, and to inversely analyze the distribution of dielectric properties inside the target to be measured based on the relative orientation of the diamond microwave sensor probe and the target to be measured at different detection positions, as well as the image taken by the camera, so as to distinguish whether there is cancerous tissue in the target to be measured according to the distribution of dielectric properties inside the target to be measured.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The medical diagnosis table also includes a displacement pitch adjustment device and a hole for placing the object to be tested; The displacement pitch adjustment device is used to adjust the detection position of the diamond microwave sensor probe so that the camera can capture images of the target to be detected at different detection positions.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The diamond microwave sensor probe comprises a diamond probe, a microwave radiation device and a light guide structure; The microwave radiation device is used to receive the control microwaves input by the microwave generation control device and radiate microwaves to the target to be measured; the optical guide structure is used to conduct the input laser to the diamond probe and output the collected fluorescence signal emitted by the diamond probe to the fluorescence readout device.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that The diamond probe is a nitrogen-vacancy color center in diamond.

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