Imaging Summaries

MRI-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical trials
Yablonskiy, 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. …

MRI neural network segmentation in atherosclerosis
Jha, 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…

Range finder to improve X-ray image collection
Clayton, 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…

Real-time interference compensation in MRI guided radiotherapy
Curcuru, 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…

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…

Machine learning paired with photoacoustic microscopy and ultrasound for improved rectal cancer imaging
Chapman 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…

MRI-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical trials
Yablonskiy, Dmitriy ; Zhao, Yue
T-015754

MRI-based virtual histopathology for non-invasive diagnosis of prostate cancer, glioblastoma and other conditions
Song, 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 scans
Jha, 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…

PANIR: Photoacoustic near-infrared spectroscopy for monitoring preterm birth
Hu, 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…

Methods to accurately measure diastolic function from echocardiogram
Chung, 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 lesions
Mostafa, 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…

Real-time 3D MRI
Kim, Taeho ; Park, Chunjoo (Justin)
T-019011

— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method for real-time, high-resolution 3D MRI that can be used in diagnostic MRI and MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT). MRgRT combines medical imaging with radiation therapy to provide visualization of the tumor…

Sigma-1 targeted PET tracers
Mach, Robert ; Tu, Zhude "Will" ; Wang, Wei
T-010394

— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and their colleagues have developed positron emission tomography (PET) tracers with high affinity for sigma-1 receptors. Sigma receptors have two subtypes, sigma-1 and sigma-2. Sigma-1 has high expression in the limbic and mo…

S1P1-targeted PET tracers
Liu, Hui ; Rosenberg, Adam ; Tu, Zhude "Will" ; Yue, Xuyi
T-016151

— Technology Description Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1)-specific PET tracers. Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors are G-protein coupled receptors, with five subtypes denoted S1P1-5, that have key functions in immune, inflammat…

Automated, Improved Deformable Image Registration for Radiation Therapy and other Clinical Applications
Yang, 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 …

User-friendly methods to detect artifacts in super-resolution microscopy
Lew, Matthew ; Mazidisharfabadi, Hesamaldin ; Nehorai, Arye
T-019008

— Engineers at Washington University have devised an automated system to enhance super-resolution microscopy images by detecting and quantifying image artifacts using no a priori information. This project stems from the advanced imaging research in Prof. Matthew Lew’s laboratory that includes op…

Deep learning algorithm to expedite MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy planning
Fu, 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…

Deep Learning-Assisted Image Reconstruction for Tomographic Imaging
Anastasio, 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 Imaging
Achilefu, 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…

Design and Development of Organomedicinals for Imaging and Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
Guruswami, Sundaram ; Sharma, Vijay ; Sivapackiam, Jothilingam
T-016665

— Background Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of non-Alzheimer’s dementia in the population under 65 years old. FTD represents approximately 20% of all dementias and onset normally appears in the mid to late 50s. Clinically FTD is characterized by a progressive neur…

Mobile PET imaging system
Li, 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…

Dual Light-Emitting Systems and Biological Applications Thereof
Achilefu, 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…

Natriuretic Peptide-Mediated Imaging and/or Treatment of Atherosclerotic Plaque
Rossin, Raffaella ; Welch, Michael ; Woodard, Pamela
T-007679

— Background Atherosclerosis is a disease process in which lipid deposition causes the formation of plaques that lead to thickening of the artery walls. The cause of a majority of fatal acute myocardial infarction and sudden coronary death is due to the rupture of soft or unstable plaques; however, t…

Quantify multi-tensor for improved CNS injury diagnosis using diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI)
Song, Sheng-Kwei "Victor" ; Wang, Qing ; Wang, Yong
T-009943

— Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has demonstrated sensitivity to detect pathologies in CNS white matter disorders. However, the capability of DTI to detect CNS white matter pathologies is confounded by the coexisting structural (crossing fibers) and pathological (inflammation associated ce…

Tri-heterocyclic ring compounds as alpha-synuclein ligands
Kotzbauer, Paul ; Mach, Robert ; Tu, Zhude "Will" ; Yu, Lihai
T-011942

— A novel series of phenothiazine-derived molecules are useful for detecting Parkinson’s disease using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The molecules bind with high affinity to the alpha- synuclein protein, which forms aggregates in the brain and is associated with the neurodegenerati…

Myocardial perfusion SPECT optimization
Jha, 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…

EMMI- non-invasive imaging method for safe, accurate, robust monitoring of uterine contractions
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 system
Li, Ke ; Mathews, Aswin ; Tai, Yuan-Chuan ; Wen, Jie
T-014964

Toolkit to efficiently design exact pulse code sequences for MRI, NMR or quantum computing
Li, 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 …

Insert device that enhances MR and PET image resolution for MR-PET machines
Tai, 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…

Software to predict low back pain from brain imaging
Hawasli, 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 neuroimaging
Bergonzi, 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 …

MRI and PET nanoparticle imaging agents for kidney disease diagnostics and transplant evaluation
Baldelomar, Edwin ; Bennett, Kevin
T-019017

— Technology Description: Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed targeted, natural nanoparticle imaging agents that may be used to quantify kidney nephron endowment and diagnose renal disease with MRI or PET imaging. Nephrons are the functional units of the kidney responsi…

Machine learning methods for real-time MRI image processing: MRI-only radiation treatment planning and improving MR image resolution
Green, 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…

Toolkit to efficiently design exact pulse code sequences for MRI, NMR or quantum computing
Li, Jr-Shin
T-017456

Machine learning method for fast, reliable quality assurance of patient imaging in radiation therapy or computer-aided detection
Altman, 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…

Miniature, high resolution multi-spectral imaging for label-free image guided surgery and other applications
Garcia 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…

Ultrasound “painting” for precise, targeted drug delivery to the brain
Chen, 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”…

MRI-based multiparametric cardiac strain analysis of myocardial viability
Cupps, 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…

Insert device that enhances MR and PET image resolution for MR-PET machines
Tai, Yuan-Chuan
T-007555

Photon tunneling
An, 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 Source
Zhang, 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 MPI
Lanza, 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…

Optical Coherence Computed Tomography
Li, Li ; Wang, Lihong
T-008832

— Optical coherence tomography (OCT) utilizes optical light to obtain an image of opaque or translucent objects, ie tissue. Because scattered light contributes to the bluring found in other optical imaging techniques, OCT filters out all the scattered light. An image is formed using only the back refl…

Conformationally-flexible benzamide analogs as sigma-2 selective ligands
Mach, Robert ; Rowland, Douglas ; Tu, Zhude "Will" ; Welch, Michael
T-004063

— The sigma-2 (σ2) receptor is an important target for the development of molecular probes in oncology because of its 10-fold higher density in proliferating tumor cells than in quiescent tumor cells, and the observation that σ2 receptor agonists are able to kill tumor cells via apoptotic …

MRI-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical trials
Yablonskiy, Dmitriy ; Zhao, Yue
T-015754

Myocardial perfusion SPECT optimization
Jha, Abhinav Kumar ; Rahman, Md Ashequr ; Siegel, Barry ; Yu, Zitong
T-020357

Range finder to improve X-ray image collection
Clayton, William ; Don, Steven
T-014196

MRI-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical trials
Yablonskiy, Dmitriy ; Zhao, Yue
T-015754

PANIR: Photoacoustic near-infrared spectroscopy for monitoring preterm birth
Hu, Peng ; Macones, George ; Qu, Yuan "Ed" ; Stout, Molly ; Tuuli, Methodius ; Zhao, Peinan
T-018998

Novel Method and Device to Produce Fluorine-18 PET Tracers
Zhou, Dong
T-019276

— 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 …

PET tracers for detection of early stage Alzheimer’s disease
Guruswami, 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…

Real-time 3D MRI
Kim, Taeho ; Park, Chunjoo (Justin)
T-019011

Microfluidic device for high-throughput, multiplexed electrochemical analysis with live-cell imaging and spectrometry
Binkley, Michael ; Bose, Arpita ; Meacham, John ; Rengasamy, Karthikeyan
T-018839

— Technology Description An interdisciplinary team of Washington University researchers has developed a high-throughput microfluidic bioelectrochemical cell (μBEC) that collects electrochemical data and is compatible with live-cell microscopy and spectrometry. This device transcends the capabilit…

Deep Learning-Assisted Image Reconstruction for Tomographic Imaging
Anastasio, Mark ; Kelly, Brendan ; Matthews, Thomas
T-017311

Tumor Detection Using Digitally Enhanced and Stimulated Thermal Imaging
Achilefu, Samuel ; Meng, Hongyu ; Mondal, Suman ; O'Brien, Christine ; Shmuylovich, Leonid
T-018541

Optical Resolution Photoacoustic Imaging Device for Port-Wine Stains
Maslov, 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 Alzheimerâ€™s disease
Mirica, 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 Thereof
Achilefu, Samuel ; Berezin, Mikhail ; Zhang, Zongren
T-007596

Improved MRI resolution with Diffusion Dictionary Imaging (DDI)
Wang, Qing ; Wang, Yong
T-019608

Efficient multi-dimensional 4D MRI and PET/MR motion correction
An, 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 Tracers
Chu, Wenhua ; Zhou, Dong
T-015970