Advancing medical imaging techniques to address the challenges in medicine
Introduction
Medical imaging is a core interdisciplinary science that requires expertise from a variety of fields such as physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering. Advanced medical imaging plays a central role in addressing the challenges in medicine including improved early detection, high-precision therapeutics, and prognosis of treatment.
More accurate medical imaging with less associated health risk is the primary motivation of the research activities of the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Lab. We aim to advance medical imaging techniques to address the challenges in medicine including early detection of diseases, high-precision therapeutics, and accurate prognosis. X-ray radiography and 3D CT devices are non-invasive and contain rich information of what's inside the human body. Improved image quality of X-ray medical images with pre/post-processing without additional x-ray dose can help the medical doctor’s decision in many applications. Also, accurate image-guidance techniques during treatments help improve clinical outcomes.
Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Lab is currently working on several other projects in the areas of radiography, CT imaging, hadron imaging, radiation therapy physics, and emerging technologies. One such example project is to develop an X-ray 3D imaging method to reconstruct a dental impression which can facilitate otherwise complicated and cumbersome procedures of dental crown or inlay. Currently active projects include development of X-ray medical imaging equipments such as helical CT, mobile C-arm CT, and tomosynthesis systems. Also, there are projects related to industrial field such as laminography for nondestructive inspection of electronic devices and high-energy X-ray cargo inspection system.
Tomosynthesis (3D imaging technique to diagnose breast cancer)
Image-guidance for cancer treatment using high energy X-ray beam