Optical Adapter for Combined Optical and MR Breast Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast cancer imaging techniques, such as X-ray mammography and MR imaging, face challenges with low positive predictive value and the need for additional invasive testing, while hybrid optical and MR imaging systems are cumbersome and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An optical adapter for combined optical and MR imaging of breast tissue, incorporating a housing with an optical window that mates with a grid of a breast tissue compression system, and a method using spatial priors to enhance near-infrared image reconstruction by generating a filter matrix from MR data, improving image resolution and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If specialized hybrid optical and MR imaging systems with integrated radio frequency coils are used, then combined imaging capability is achieved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a standard MR imaging system and a separate optical imaging system with its own light sources and detectors. The optical system is integrated into the compression plate assembly rather than requiring integration with the MR scanner infrastructure, allowing independent optimization of each subsystem while achieving combined capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression plate assembly serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical compression for both MR and optical imaging, houses optical light sources and detectors for diffuse optical tomography, and maintains geometric relationship between imaging modalities. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to dedicated hybrid systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized hybrid imaging systems requiring recalibration of radio frequency coils are used, then combined imaging is enabled, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical imaging components (light sources and detectors) are extracted from the MR scanner infrastructure and integrated into the compression plate assembly. This separation eliminates the need to recalibrate radio frequency coils for optical imaging, as the optical system operates independently with its own calibration procedures that do not affect MR functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression plate assembly is pre-configured with optical light sources and detectors in fixed positions during manufacturing. This preliminary integration ensures that geometric relationships between optical and MR imaging planes are maintained without requiring post-assembly recalibration, simplifying operational procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized compression systems with integrated optical components are used, then optical imaging during MR is enabled, but loss of time increases due to additional procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The optical imaging system is merged with the compression plate assembly that is already in place during MR imaging. Light sources and detectors are integrated into the compression plates, allowing simultaneous acquisition of MR and optical data without requiring separate compression systems or additional patient repositioning, thereby reducing procedural time.
4Reliability
If traditional separate imaging modalities are used, then imaging capability is maintained, but measurement precision decreases due to inability to correlate anatomical information
Solution Approach 1:
The compression plate assembly serves as an intermediary that geometrically couples the optical and MR imaging systems. It maintains fixed spatial relationships between optical light sources/detectors and MR radio frequency coils, enabling precise registration and correlation of anatomical information from both modalities through the shared compression plate geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables non-invasive differentiation between cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, calcifications, and cysts, reducing the need for additional testing and improving the efficiency of breast tissue imaging procedures.
Implementation Method 1
Diffuse optical tomography uses electromagnetic energy, ranging from visible light to near infrared (NIR), to probe objects beneath the skin surface, such as tissue, fluid and tumors
Implementation Method 2
Information about tissue composition and morphology is gained by measuring and modeling light absorption, scattering and emission
Implementation Method 3
Information about tissue composition and morphology is gained by measuring and modeling light absorption, scattering and emission
Implementation Method 4
MR imaging produces higher resolution images of deeper and/or denser tissue than mammography, without the use of ionizing radiation
Data Source
AI summary
Optical devices for use with a magnetic resonance imaging breast compression system include light wands and optical adapters that can releasably mate with grids. These devices, and their associated methods, may reduce or eliminate the need for biopsy by allowing for the differentiation of cancerous tumors, non-cancerous tumors, calcifications and cysts.