SBIR-STTR Award

The ultimate objective of the Pandora project is to develop a unique system for capturing and storing both black-and-white and color rapid-access, permanent, high-quality images, viewable by transmitted light, from diagnostic ultrasound systems in radiology environments. The Pandora system will be quick, simple, economical, and compatible with current hard-copy methods. The specific objective of the feasibility phase of the project is to explore the aspects of the proposed technology that have the highest technical risk in order to establish whether the product can be implemented in a practical way. Although color Doppler ultrasound imaging is a promising technique in radiology and is gaining rapid acceptance, the lack of a satisfactory system for producing diagnostic-quality color images quickly and economically is a serious impediment to effective use of the technique. The Pandora system has promise of solving that problemAwardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:Every radiology diagnostic ultrasound system needs a hard-copy system. The great majority of ultrasound systems currently being shipped have color imaging capability, but hard-copy methods are unsatisfactory If the Pandora system fills that need, every diagnostic ultrasound machine is a potential site for such a systemNational Cancer Institute (NCI)

The long-term objective of the Pandora project is to provide radiology departments with a quick and economical way of producing diagnostic films of very high image quality which are archivally. permanent and which are viewable by transmitted light in color or black-and- white, using innovative proprietary technology. The combination of characteristics of the Pandora system will make it particularly attractive in radiology departments of small hospitals and clinics. The specific aim of this phase of the project is to take the Pandora system from the proof-of-concept stage, where it is now, to the stage where field test models are built and placed for clinical tests. To do that, the project will be taken through the product development steps of detailed product definition, system design, construction of laboratory prototype apparatus, product design engineering, and construction of product-like field test models. In field tests, the objectives will be determination of clinical adequacy, observation of changes in clinical activities owing to the new capabilities which the Pandora system will provide, and demonstration of commercial viability by showing clinical utility and professional acceptance