Medical Imaging Summaries
Cahill, Alison ; Cuculich, Phillip ; Schwartz, Alan ; Wang, Yong
T-015805
— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed an electromyometrial imaging (EMMI) method to non-invasively monitor uterine contractions. During pregnancy, many women experience preterm contractions. Sometimes these contractions progress to pre-term labor a…
Mobile PET imaging systemLi, Ke ; Mathews, Aswin ; Tai, Yuan-Chuan ; Wen, Jie
T-014964
— Background PET scanners are valued for their ability to provide whole-body functional and anatomic information, important in the diagnoses and management of metabolic conditions. However, there is currently a need in the market for a smaller imaging system that can be used for point-of-care applica…
Myocardial perfusion SPECT optimizationJha, Abhinav Kumar ; Rahman, Md Ashequr ; Siegel, Barry ; Yu, Zitong
T-020357
— T-020357, T-020358, T-020744 Myocardial perfusion SPECT optimization Technology Description Researchers from the laboratory of Abhinav Jha at Washington University have devised methods to reliably improve and personalize myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging. The inventions include the following capa…
Insert device that enhances MR and PET image resolution for MR-PET machinesTai, Yuan-Chuan
T-007555
— Background PET-CT scanners have been widely used in the identification of tumors and localization for biopsies due to its superior ability to detect biochemical and physiological functions. However, one of the main limitations of PET-CT is the inability to visualize soft tissues, which may be impor…
Photon tunnelingAn, Woo Jin ; Wang, Lihong
T-012515
— Photon tunneling has the potential to guide light to the core of a human body in vivo. Imaging, sensing, and therapy are among the applications for this technology. Light, as opposed to potentially harmful x-rays, is an ideal non-ionizing radiation for imaging and treating biological tissue, however…
Tetrahedron Beam Computed Tomography with Multi-pixel X-ray SourceZhang, Tiezhi
T-015342
— About 70 million computed tomography (CT) scans are performed in the United State alone each year. Traditional helical scanners use a single point x-ray source that rotates around the patient, acquiring images in sequential slices, which results in high quality images. But these helical scanners a…
Development of Colloidal Iron Oxide Contrast Agent for MRI and MPILanza, Gregory ; Pan, Dipanjan ; Senpan, Angana ; Wickline, Samuel
T-007545
— Background: Biodegradable magnetic carriers have been increasingly utilized in biomedical and clinical research, but the larger size of ferromagnetic agents previously used leads to long circulation times and restriction to the vasculature, making these particles ideally suited for detection of spa…
Method to Perform Spectral Biopsy of Electrophysiological Brain Function for use in Monitoring and Diagnosing Neurological ConditionsBrunner, Peter ; Leuthardt, Eric
T-019651
— Value Proposition: New process used to detect/measure the intrinsic neuronal brain activity to diagnose neurological and psychiatric diseases. Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method called Tau-Modulation to assess intrinsic neuronal activi…
MRI-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical trialsYablonskiy, Dmitriy ; Zhao, Yue
T-015754
— Technology Description Researchers in Prof. Dmitriy Yablonskiy’s laboratory have developed patented neuroimaging techniques to identify pre-clinical and early stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using MRI-based biomarkers of amyloid accumulation and other pathological changes in the brain. …
PANIR: Photoacoustic near-infrared spectroscopy for monitoring preterm birthHu, Peng ; Macones, George ; Qu, Yuan "Ed" ; Stout, Molly ; Tuuli, Methodius ; Zhao, Peinan
T-018998
— Technology Description An interdisciplinary team of researchers has developed a photoacoustic near-infrared (PANIR) probe to predict preterm birth by quantifying water content in cervical tissue (an early and objective indicator of cervical remodeling). This compact photoacoustic endoscopy probe u…
PET tracers for detection of early stage Alzheimer’s diseaseGuruswami, Sundaram ; Sharma, Vijay ; Sivapackiam, Jothilingam
T-013525
— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed PET radiotracers to image amyloid beta (A-beta) at early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). For AD treatment to be effective, it may have to be administered during the preclinical stage. As such, there i…
Deep Learning-Assisted Image Reconstruction for Tomographic ImagingAnastasio, Mark ; Kelly, Brendan ; Matthews, Thomas
T-017311
— Background Image reconstruction for any modern imaging technique is an optimization problem. Most image reconstructions methods are iterative in nature and produce sequential intermediate images that are compared to the raw acquisition data and subsequently updated to maximize the likelihood that t…
Tumor Detection Using Digitally Enhanced and Stimulated Thermal ImagingAchilefu, Samuel ; Meng, Hongyu ; Mondal, Suman ; O'Brien, Christine ; Shmuylovich, Leonid
T-018541
— Background Temperature differences between tumor and healthy tissue due to increased blood flow and metabolic activity are exploited for thermal imaging (TI) as an adjunct imaging modality for cancer diagnosis. Despite many technological advances and recent improvements, TI has a limited tumor dept…
Optical Resolution Photoacoustic Imaging Device for Port-Wine StainsMaslov, Konstantin ; Rao, Bin ; Wang, Lihong
T-012585
— A photoacoustic tomography device that provides high optical absorption contrast with high lateral resolution, including very good melanin distribution images, for port wine stain birthmarks.
Multifunctional chemical agents for metal chelation, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, fluorescence imaging, and amyloid plaque clearance in Alzheimer’s diseaseMirica, Liviu ; Schultz, Jason ; Sharma, Anuj
T-013190
— Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of amyloid plaques containing the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide. Currently, no treatment is available for AD. Metal ion interactions of the Aβ peptide are believed to help formation of toxic aggregates. Developing chemical compo…
Dual Light-Emitting Systems and Biological Applications ThereofAchilefu, Samuel ; Berezin, Mikhail ; Zhang, Zongren
T-007596
— Background: Near Infrared (NIR) fluorescence can be highly useful in biological systems as it is highly sensitive and allows for detection and imaging of physiological and molecular processes in cells and living organisms. However, radiometric imaging is difficult in the NIR region of the light spec…
Real-time 3D MRI for use in Diagnostic MRI and MRI-guided RadiotherapyKim, Taeho ; Park, Chunjoo (Justin)
T-019011
— Value Proposition: Method combines two previously known techniques to enable real time 3D MRI image reconstruction for improving patient care. Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method for real-time, high-resolution 3D MRI that can be used i…
Range finder to improve X-ray image collectionClayton, William ; Don, Steven
T-014196
— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a device that automatically measures and displays body thickness to optimize X-ray image collection. This device will improve X-ray image quality and reduce the radiation exposure to patients. The device es…
Improved MRI resolution with Diffusion Dictionary Imaging (DDI)Wang, Qing ; Wang, Yong
T-019608
— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed MRI post-processing software capable of imaging cellular components. The software matches specific patterns with a dictionary of signals corresponding to cellular components. While the researchers have previous…
Efficient multi-dimensional 4D MRI and PET/MR motion correctionAn, Hongyu ; Eldeniz, Cihat
T-016414
— Technology Description Researchers in Prof. Hongyu An’s laboratory have developed a new image processing system for faster acquisition of motion-corrected MR or PET/MR images. This technology could be expanded to multiple sampling schema to correct both respiratory and cardiac motion. Liv…
Novel Method and Device to Produce Fluorine-18 PET TracersChu, Wenhua ; Zhou, Dong
T-015970
— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) have developed a new method and device for the preparation of flourine-18 (F-18) radiolabeled compounds as positron emission tomography (PET) tracers. PET is a widely used clinical and research imaging tool that will …
Methods to accurately measure diastolic function from echocardiogramChung, Charles ; Kovacs, Sandor ; Shmuylovich, Leonid
T-005426
— Technology Description Researchers in Prof. Sandor Kovacs’ laboratory developed a patented, non-invasive, load-independent method to measure the intrinsic diastolic performance of the heart. This load-independent index of filling (LIIF) can be incorporated into the software of echocardiogram…
Ultrasound-guided diffuse optical tomography for fast, low-cost functional imaging of breast lesionsMostafa, Atahar ; Zhu, Quing
T-018800
— Technology Description Prof. Quing Zhu and colleagues have pioneered a compact, low-cost ultrasound-guided optical tomography system designed to differentiate between benign and malignant breast lesions and reduce the need for costly and invasive biopsies. This technology enables fast, robust imag…
Automated, Improved Deformable Image Registration for Radiation Therapy and other Clinical ApplicationsYang, Deshan
T-017324
— Technology Description Prof. Deshan Yang and colleagues have developed automated systems and software toolkits to provide more accurate deformable image registration (DIR) for adaptive radiotherapy and other clinical applications. In particular, they have automated tedious and labor-intensive DIR …
Deep learning algorithm to expedite MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy planningFu, Yabo ; Yang, Deshan
T-018708
— Technology Description Researchers in Prof. Deshan Yang’s laboratory have developed a deep-learning method for fast, robust, automated MRI segmentation to expedite treatment planning for patients undergoing MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MR-IGART). Specifically, this technology utilizes a…
Ultrasound “painting” for precise, targeted drug delivery to the brainChen, Hong ; Williamson, Jeffrey ; Yang, Yaoheng "Mack"
T-018953
— Technology Description Researchers in Prof. Hong Chen’s laboratory have developed a safe, convenient monitoring technique to precisely deliver drugs to the brain by integrating ultrasound imaging with ultrasound therapy (focused ultrasound-blood-brain-barrier delivery, “FUS-BBBD”…
Real-time interference compensation in MRI guided radiotherapyCurcuru, Austen ; Gach, H. Michael ; Kim, Taeho ; Villa, Umberto
T-019745
— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method to improve image quality during MR imaging guided radiation therapy (MR-IGRT) by correcting for B0 fluctuation in real-time. The corrections reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) between the MRI sc…
MRI-based virtual histopathology for non-invasive diagnosis of prostate cancer, glioblastoma and other conditionsSong, Sheng-Kwei "Victor" ; Ye, Zezhong
T-016528
— Researchers in Prof. Sheng-Kwei (Victor) Song’s laboratory have developed diffusion histology imaging (“DHI”), a tool to provide a non-invasive diagnosis for accurately grading tumors and guiding treatment decisions. This “virtual histopathology” technology classifies mic…
Automated image processing tools for quantitative SPECT and PET scansJha, Abhinav Kumar ; Liu, Ziping ; Moon, Hae Sol ; Rahman, Md Ashequr ; Yu, Zitong
T-019331
— Engineers in Washington University’s Computational Medical Imaging Lab have developed automated, machine-learning techniques to improve nuclear medicine imaging (SPECT and PET). These tools include estimation-based segmentation methods to define boundaries and ASC (attenuation and scatter comp…
Toolkit to efficiently design exact pulse code sequences for MRI, NMR or quantum computingLi, Jr-Shin
T-017456
— Technology Description Engineers in Prof. Jr-Shin Li’s laboratory have developed a computationally efficient analytical technique to design exact RF pulse code sequences which optimize quantum applications such as MRI for medical diagnosis, NMR spectroscopy for uncovering protein structures …
Miniature, high resolution multi-spectral imaging for label-free image guided surgery and other applicationsGarcia Hernandez, Nimrod Missael ; Gruev, Viktor
T-016872
— Technology Description Engineers in Prof. Viktor Gruev’s laboratory have developed a compact 27-band hyperspectral imaging system for high resolution, label-free, real-time imaging. This system can distinguish spectral signatures in image guided surgery (IGS) and other applications. The tech…
MRI-based multiparametric cardiac strain analysis of myocardial viabilityCupps, Brian ; Pasque, Michael
T-006692
— Background: Assessing left ventricle (LV) cardiac contractile function is a good indicator of overall heart health and is used to determine which patients are good candidates for revascularization surgery. With over 3 million new coronary artery disease patients annually and over 1 million annual re…
Imaging and treatment of pathophysiologic conditions by Cerenkov RadiationAchilefu, Samuel ; Kotagiri, Nalinikanth
T-013974
— Background: Around 1 million patients receive radiation therapy every year with an estimated cost of $2,000 per treatment. The market demands technologies that can provide efficacious therapeutics and diagnostic imaging while minimizing harmful side effects. Photodynamic therapy can simultaneously s…
MRI neural network segmentation in atherosclerosisJha, Abhinav Kumar ; Li, Ran ; Woodard, Pamela ; Zheng, Jie
T-020254
— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a two-stage neural network model, with CNN and BNN architecture, to segment carotid atherosclerotic plaque components based on multi-weighted MR images and measure the uncertainty of the segmentation output. Th…
Machine learning paired with photoacoustic microscopy and ultrasound for improved rectal cancer imagingChapman Jr., William "Will Jr" ; Leng, Xiandong ; Mutch, Matthew ; Uddin, Shihab ; Zhu, Quing
T-019449
— Technology Description: Researchers led by Quing Zhu at Washington University have developed a method for imaging rectal tumors using photoacoustic microscopy and ultrasound with a machine learning component. This method is better able to differentiate residual cancer from healthy tissue following…
Software to predict low back pain from brain imagingHawasli, Ammar ; Jayasekera, Dinal ; Lamichhane, Bidhan ; Leuthardt, Eric ; Ray, Wilson
T-019322
— Technology Description: Researchers at Washington University, led by Eric Leuthardt, have developed software that can identify specific brain regions involved in chronic low back pain from neuroimaging data. This software, powered by machine learning, relies on differences in cortical thickness an…
Lightweight, wearable cap for bedside functional optical neuroimagingBergonzi, Karla ; Culver, Joseph ; Eggebrecht, Adam ; Ferradal, Silvina
T-013611
— Technology Description Researchers in Prof. Joseph Culver’s laboratory have developed a patented, compact, lightweight functional neuroimaging device for long-term bedside monitoring. This technology, based on high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT), could be used as a surrogate for …
Machine learning methods for real-time MRI image processing: MRI-only radiation treatment planning and improving MR image resolutionGreen, Olga ; Mutic, Sasa ; Park, Chunjoo (Justin) ; Zhang, Hao
T-018522
— Technology Description A team of researchers at Washington University School of Medicine developed deep learning image processing techniques to improve MRI diagnostics and potentially enable faster, more precise MRI-guided radiation therapy without exposing patients to radiation from CT imaging. S…
Machine learning method for fast, reliable quality assurance of patient imaging in radiation therapy or computer-aided detectionAltman, Michael ; Green, Olga ; Kavanaugh, James ; Li, Hua ; Mutic, Sasa ; Wooten, Hasani
T-013577
— Technology Description A team of researchers at Washington University has created a machine learning method to quickly and reliably validate patient contours in digital medical images for radiation therapy and computer aided image analysis. Currently, automated contouring tools for delineating tu…
