Clinical Imaging with Acoustic Wave or Photoacoustic Tomosynthesis

Ultrasound-based cancer screening and biopsy imaging technologies are a clinical need. Ultrasound based biopsy imaging can provide a real-time modality for lower cost that is comparable to, or complimentary to MRI imaging.  This technology may enable more accurate, less costly and more accessible cancer screening.

Researcers at the NIH Clinical Center developed a technology that images internal anatomical structure, using ultrasound tomography, and may be used for screening for cancer of internal anatomical structures (prostate, cervix, ovaries).  An ultrasound probe, placed internally in a patient's body cavity, is positioned in coordination with a second ultrasound probe placed externally, such as on the abdomen of the patient. Aligning the probes with one another obtains acoustic information for reconstructing, via specialized software, tomographic images of the internal anatomical structures. Light sources may also be used for certain tissue of interest, such as prostate by a transurethral catheter, making photoacoustic waves that can be received by the ultrasound transducers to reconstruct photoacoustic tomographic image of the tissue. 

Competitive Advantages:

* Real-time modality, lower cost
* Improved ultrasound image sensitivity

Commercial Applications:

* Cancer screening