Parametric Map Generation for Breast Tumor Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging technologies face challenges in effectively acquiring and processing optoacoustic data to produce accurate parametric maps, particularly in differentiating malignant from benign breast tumors.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for acquiring optoacoustic data using a combined optoacoustic and ultrasound system, which involves preprocessing sinograms to remove unwanted information, reconstructing images, and generating parametric maps of oxygenation, hemoglobin, and masked oxygenation, co-registered with ultrasound images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optoacoustic data is acquired using conventional imaging technologies, then basic imaging capability is achieved, but the ability to differentiate malignant from benign tumors is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines optoacoustic imaging with ultrasound imaging into a single integrated system. The optoacoustic module provides functional information about tissue oxygenation and hemoglobin content, while the ultrasound module provides structural information. By merging these two imaging modalities, the system achieves improved tumor differentiation accuracy without requiring multiple separate devices, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system performs multiple functions simultaneously: optoacoustic imaging for functional assessment, ultrasound imaging for structural assessment, and combined parametric map generation for comprehensive tumor characterization. This multi-functionality allows a single system to provide both structural and functional information needed for accurate tumor differentiation, improving measurement precision while avoiding the need for multiple specialized devices.
2Loss of information
If multiple parametric maps are generated from optoacoustic data, then tissue composition information is enhanced, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data processing pipeline is segmented into distinct modules: sinogram preprocessing, image reconstruction, parametric map generation, and coregistration with ultrasound images. Each module handles a specific aspect of the data processing, making the overall complex process more manageable and systematic. This segmentation allows for specialized processing of each data type while maintaining the completeness of tissue composition information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary preprocessing of sinogram data to remove unwanted information before full image reconstruction and parametric map generation. This preliminary action simplifies subsequent processing steps and reduces the computational burden, allowing multiple parametric maps to be generated with enhanced tissue composition information without overwhelming data processing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If sinogram preprocessing is performed to remove unwanted information, then image quality is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The preprocessing step extracts and removes unwanted information from the raw sinogram data, such as noise and artifacts, before the main image reconstruction process. By taking out these unwanted elements early in the pipeline, the quality of the reconstructed images and generated parametric maps is improved. The extraction is performed efficiently to minimize the time added to the overall processing workflow.
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
The system enables the production of high-quality parametric maps that provide valuable information about tissue composition, aiding in the differentiation of malignant and benign breast tumors.
Implementation Method 1
a combined optoacoustic and ultrasound system
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for generating sinograms by sampling a plurality of transducers acoustically coupled with the surface of a volume of tissue over a period of time after a light pulse at one wavelength, and after another light pulse at a different wavelength, and for processing those sinograms, reconstructing at least two optoacoustic images from the two sinograms, processing the two optoacoustic images to generate two envelope images and generating a parametric map from information in the two envelope images. In an embodiment, motion and tracking are determined to align the envelope images. In an embodiment, at least a second parametric map is produced from information in the same two envelope images. In an embodiment an ultrasound image is also acquired, and the parametric map is coregistered with and overlayed upon the ultrasound image, and then displayed.