Resonant Thermoacoustic Imaging for Early Breast Cancer Detection PIs: Jian Li, Mark Sheplak, Lou Cattafesta, Henry Zmuda, Andreas Haselbacher Primary Graduate Students: Alina Soderholm, Bin Guo US Army Grant: W81XWH-06-1-0389

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Resonant Thermoacoustic Imaging for Early Breast
Cancer DetectionPIs Jian Li, Mark Sheplak, Lou
Cattafesta, Henry Zmuda, Andreas
HaselbacherPrimary Graduate Students Alina
Soderholm, Bin GuoUS Army Grant W81XWH-06-1-0389

• Research Objectives
• The University of Florida has recently initiated
  a 3-year research program focused on the
  development of MEMS-based resonant acoustic
  imaging technology for the detection of breast
  cancer. The objective is to formulate a
  highly-advanced, inexpensive early detection
  system for breast cancer.

• Need for MEMS
• Conventional ultrasound transducers are larger
  than the wavelength of the thermoacoustically
  generated ultrasound leading to directional
  response and distortion of the array point spread
  function. Sub-millimeter MEMS devices will be
  developed to provide sensing elements with an
  omni-directional response.

• Approach
• The breast is radiated with a time-dependent
  uniform field of electromagnetic energy
• Tissue absorbs the energy, causing heating
• Heating causes tissue expansion, leading to
  generation of ultrasound waves
• An array of ultrasound transducers images the
  tumor

Generation of ultrasound waves

• Broader Impact
• This system would be widely available as a
  routine health examination for the general
  public, much like the pap smear that is currently
  in use for the screening of cervical cancer.

MEMS transducers