Biomedical Terahertz Systems

生物医学太赫兹系统

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04022
• 负责人: Collier, Christopher
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=710649
• 关键词: Biomedical; Terahertz; Systems

One quarter of Canadians die from cancer, being 80,000 Canadian deaths in 2015, and skin cancer is especially prevalent. In fact, skin cancer has a rate of occurrence equal to that of all other cancers combined. As early detection dramatically increases survival, there exists a longstanding need for quick, reliable, and widespread skin cancer detection. Recent advances in skin cancer detection have appeared through spectroscopy with near-infrared wavelengths. Unfortunately, these wavelengths struggle to probe subdermally and to distinguish benign and malignant lesions. However, terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is ideally suited to skin cancer detection. It can probe subdermally, from its deep THz penetration, and identify malignant lesions, from its high THz sensitivity to moisture. However, there are many challenges with oncological THz systems under development. These systems are prohibitively expensive, are much too large for widespread clinical use, and have long data acquisition times which are ineffective for in-vivo scanning of skin. These systems use conventional THz emitters, which require expensive and bulky titanium-sapphire lasers, and use conventional THz detectors, which operate through slow measurement techniques. The proposed work will develop oncological THz systems possessing the required functionality for skin cancer detection and diagnostics. This functionality will be achieved by addressing key issues related to THz emission and detection. Terahertz emitters will be developed that are compatible with inexpensive and compact erbium-doped fibre lasers (for inexpensive and compact oncological THz systems). Terahertz detectors will be developed that utilize a novel technique for short data acquisition times. The proposed work will use results from several pilot studies previously completed by the applicant. These pilot studies developed a photonic nanojet lensing technique which will enable the required compatibility between photoconductive THz emitters and erbium-doped fibre lasers. These pilot studies also developed a phase mask technique which will enable the creation of THz detectors with the short data acquisition times required for skin cancer diagnostics. Prototypes of the oncological THz systems will be developed as this technology is moved towards commercialization and widespread availability/impact. The developing oncological THz systems have great medical and commercial potential.

加拿大人中有四分之一死于癌症，2015年加拿大人死亡80,000人，皮肤癌尤其普遍。实际上，皮肤癌的发生率等于所有其他癌症的发生率。随着早期检测显着提高生存率，长期需要快速，可靠和广泛的皮肤癌检测。 皮肤癌检测的最新进展是通过近红外波长的光谱法出现的。不幸的是，这些波长努力地探测下骨，并区分良性和恶性病变。但是，Terahertz（THZ）光谱法非常适合于皮肤癌检测。它可以从深层的THZ渗透率下探测，并从其高thz敏感性到水分识别恶性病变。但是，正在开发的肿瘤学THZ系统面临许多挑战。这些系统非常昂贵，对于广泛的临床使用而言太大了，并且具有很长的数据采集时间，而对于皮肤的体内扫描却无效。这些系统使用传统的THZ发射器，需要昂贵且庞大的钛式激光器，并使用传统的THZ探测器，这些探测器通过缓慢的测量技术运行。 拟议的工作将开发具有皮肤癌检测和诊断功能所需功能的肿瘤学系统。该功能将通过解决与THZ排放和检测有关的关键问题来实现。将开发出与廉价且掺杂的纤维激光器（用于廉价且紧凑的肿瘤学系统）的Terahertz发射器。将开发Terahertz探测器，该检测器利用一种新技术来用于简短的数据采集时间。 拟议的工作将使用申请人先前完成的几项试点研究的结果。这些初步研究开发了一种光子纳米射击技术，该技术将使光电传入的THZ发射器和掺杂纤维激光器之间的兼容性。这些试点研究还开发了一种相掩模技术，该技术将使THZ探测器创建具有皮肤癌诊断所需的短数据采集时间。随着该技术已转向商业化和广泛的可用性/影响，将开发肿瘤学系统的原型。发展中的肿瘤学系统具有巨大的医疗和商业潜力。