Cancer and Pulmonary Embolism Computer Aided Diagnoses (CAD) and Medical Image and Information Processors

Diagnoses of cancers and pulmonary embolism are performed by visually interpreting computer graphics displays. This Phase I SBIR transfers an Air Force high energy laser design code (System Optical Quality), imaging and sensors technologies to demonstrate computer aided diagnoses (CAD) of cancer and pulmonary embolism. CAD is a diagnosis made by human expert who takes into account the results of computerized analysis of medical images and uses the results as the second opinion in detecting cancers and classifying images; the final diagnosis is made by a physician. The CAD second opinion enables a physician to take a second look to minimize missed diagnoses, which delay treatment and results in unnecessary procedures (and costs). Team member Frederick Datz, MD, a director at the University of Utah Medical School and practitioner at the Veterans Administration Medical Center says, "CAD could serve as a 'second opinion' allowing less experience or specialized radiologists to read radionuclide studies. Even if an expert screens the studies, second reading by another expert has been shown to significantly reduce the number of false-negative studies. Our system would serve as a more cost effective technique than using a second expert. CAD is of DUAL USE because bone a prostate cancers affect most Veterans. Pulmonary embolism and breast cancer are often misdiagnosed; over 20% of cases. The reason for the misdiagnoses are multiple and include simple explanations such as high volume, tiredness, eye fatigues and oversight. CAD will be sufficiently accurate to serve as a second opinion to a physician. In Phase II CAD will be adapted for use on a low-cost, high speed reconfigurable Medical Image and Information Processor, MIIP. MIIP is a hardware system using spatial light modulators that operate in the MHz range. Phase II CAD diagnoses a variety of conditions including breast and testicular cancer.