SBIR-STTR Award

We propose to develop an innovative prototype imaging system which combines the unique properties of the Compact Light Source (a new x-ray source developed with NIGMS SBIR funding) with a new imaging method called Differential Phase Contrast Imaging. This Clinical High Resolution Imaging System (CHRIS) will yield x-ray images which can distinguish subtle variations in soft tissue at an extremely fine scale. The Compact Light Source (CLS), developed with a grant from the Protein Structure Initiative of the NIGMS, is a high-intensity, tunable synchrotron light source that is small enough for clinical implementation. DPCI is an elegant new imaging technology that has demonstrated superior visualization of soft tissue using x-rays. Image contrast for DPCI is caused by the phase shift of x-rays passing through the subject and therefore does not rely upon absorption as with conventional x-ray techniques. The DPCI technique provides three improved contrast mechanisms to reveal specific soft tissue detail not revealed in standard radiographs: higher-quality absorption contrast arising from the nearly monochromatic point-like x-ray source; phase contrast that highlights the density variation of soft tissue; and dark-field contrast which accentuates small-angle scattering from the fine structure of soft tissue. DPCI, as a transmissive technique, also favors high-energy x-rays (30 keV or higher) that can significantly reduce the absorbed dose received by the patient over conventional x-ray techniques. CHRIS is intended to integrate these two innovative technologies-the CLS and DPCI-to produce a turnkey system for both 2-D and tomographic imaging of phantoms and tissue samples with all of the degrees of freedom necessary to simulate the motions required for clinical applications; it will be implemented with the intent of later handling patients without significant re-engineering. When complete, the CHRIS will be a product which will enable the development of clinical applications of this new method towards cancer detection, mammography, osteoarthritis, small animal imaging and other clinical radiological applications which require the detection of fine structure within soft tissue. The CHRIS proposal seeks to develop a new, versatile state-of-the-art instrument to enable both basic biomedical research and clinical investigations of a wide range of health issues.

Public Health Relevance:
The proposed Clinical High Resolution Imaging System (CHRIS) will extend the power of present x-ray diagnostic imaging by employing new contrast mechanisms to show extremely fine details within soft tissue that conventional radiography cannot reveal. This improved x-ray imaging would enable researchers to better understand disease and therapies and help to diagnose and treat disease at the earliest detectable stage. CHRIS will be a new state-of-the-art instrument to enable both basic biomedical research and clinical investigations of a wide range of health issues, including the early detection of cancer, in vivo imaging of small animals, as well as other soft tissue applications.

Public Health Relevance Statement:
7. Project Narrative The proposed Clinical High Resolution Imaging System (CHRIS) will extend the power of present x-ray diagnostic imaging by employing new contrast mechanisms to show extremely fine details within soft tissue that conventional radiography cannot reveal. This improved x-ray imaging would enable researchers to better understand disease and therapies and help to diagnose and treat disease at the earliest detectable stage. CHRIS will be a new state-of-the-art instrument to enable both basic biomedical research and clinical investigations of a wide range of health issues, including the early detection of cancer, in vivo imaging of small animals, as well as other soft tissue applications.

Project Terms:
2-dimensional; Absorption; Animal Experiments; Animals; Architecture; Arthritis, Degenerative; Arts; Biomedical Research; Breast Tissue; Cancer Detection; Cancer Screening for Patients; Cancer of Breast; Clinical; Clinical Trials; Clinical Trials, Unspecified; Clinics and Hospitals; Clinics or Hospitals; Computer Programs; Computer software; Conventional X-Ray; Coronary Angiography; Data Collection; Degenerative polyarthritis; Detection; Development; Devices; Diagnosis; Diagnostic; Diagnostic Imaging; Diagnostic Radiology; Diagnostic radiologic examination; Disease; Disorder; Dose; Dose-Rate; Early Diagnosis; Elements; Energy-Generating Resources; Engineering; Engineering / Architecture; Engineerings; Equipment; Equipment Design; Freedom; Funding; Generations; Grant; Health; Hour; Human; Human, General; Image; Image Analyses; Image Analysis; Image Reconstructions; Imagery; Imaging Device; Imaging Phantoms; Imaging Procedures; Imaging Techniques; Imaging Tool; Imaging technology; Institutes; Investigators; Laboratories; Laboratory Research; Liberty; Light; MMG; Malignant Tumor of the Breast; Malignant neoplasm of breast; Mammary Gland Parenchyma; Mammary Gland Tissue; Mammogram; Mammography; Man (Taxonomy); Man, Modern; Medical Imaging, X-Ray; Methods; Methods and Techniques; Methods, Other; Motion; NIGMS; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthrosis; Output; PSI; Patients; Phantoms; Phantoms, Imaging; Phase; Photoradiation; Process of absorption; Property; Property, LOINC Axis 2; Protein Structure Initiative; ROC Analysis; Radiography; Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray; Research; Research Personnel; Researchers; Resolution; Roentgenography; SBIR; SBIRS (R43/44); Sampling; Scientist; Screening for cancer; Simulate; Small Business Innovation Research; Small Business Innovation Research Grant; Software; Source; Staging; Structure; Switzerland; Synchrotrons; System; System, LOINC Axis 4; Technics, Imaging; Techniques; Technology; Testing; Time; Tissue Sample; Variant; Variation; Visualization; Work; Writing; X-Ray Imaging; X-Ray, Diagnostic; animal tissue; bioimaging; bioimaging/biomedical imaging; biomedical imaging; cancer imaging; clinical applicability; clinical application; clinical investigation; computer imaging; computer program/software; cost; degenerative joint disease; density; design; designing; digital imaging; disease/disorder; early cancer detection; early detection; energy source; engineering design; experiment; experimental research; experimental study; hypertrophic arthritis; image evaluation; imaging; imaging modality; improved; in vivo; innovate; innovation; innovative; innovative technologies; instrument; malignant breast neoplasm; optic imaging; optical imaging; prototype; public health relevance; research study; soft tissue; tomography; tumor; two-dimensional