Distributed microwave image processing system and method

Abstract

A distributed imaging system uses non-ionizing radiation in the form of microwaves to image the body. This non-ionizing radiation is safer for a patient than traditional x-rays. The majority of image processing takes place in a centralized computing environment which receives microwave image data from many remote data acquisition sites (such as imaging centers, radiology groups, and/or doctor's offices). The centralized computing environment is specially configured to receive microwave image data from many sites and produce microwave images based on the received microwave image data. The microwave images may then be sent back to the acquisition site and/or to other sites for viewing and evaluation. This relieves the image data acquisition site of the burden and expense of having specialized high speed computer equipment that is necessary to produce microwave images. Because the computing environment collects and stores information (data and results) from many data acquisition sites in one central location, the prior results from all of the acquisition sites can be accessed and used to enhance processing and diagnosis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for producing images of at least part of a body, the system comprising:
 a centralized computing environment configured to receive microwave data from a plurality of remote data acquisition sites, wherein the centralized computing environment is specially configured to receive the microwave data and reconstruct at least one image based on the microwave data.   
     
     
         2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of remote acquisition sites comprise:
 at least one microwave transmitter and at least one microwave receiver, configured to transmit a microwave to a body and to receive a microwave from the body and to generate the microwave data; and   a communications device configured to transmit the microwave data to the centralized computing environment.   
     
     
         3 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 a communications device configured to transmit a reconstructed microwave image to a remote viewing location.   
     
     
         4 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 at least two processors, at least two high-speed memory buses, and a plurality of memories that are connected to the processors by the high-speed memory buses.   
     
     
         5 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 a centralized database configured to store past microwave data from the plurality of remote data acquisition sites; and   a seed generation program that compares the past microwave data with present microwave data in order to generate a seed for reconstruction.   
     
     
         6 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 a centralized database configured to store past diagnoses associated with past image reconstructions; and   a learning program that uses the past diagnoses to suggest a diagnosis for a present microwave image.   
     
     
         7 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises at least one processing queue that receives microwave data from the plurality of remote data acquisition sites and provides the microwave data to at least two processors such that processors operate in parallel on the microwave data. 
     
     
         8 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 a patient history database that stores and provides access to patient histories.   
     
     
         9 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 a data collaboration application that accepts and responds to insurance inquiries.   
     
     
         10 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 a DICOM communications application that allows researchers and scientists to access the system.   
     
     
         11 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 multi-core processors.   
     
     
         12 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized computing environment comprises:
 a program to relate dielectric values of the reconstructed image to Hounsfield values.   
     
     
         13 . A method for producing images of at least part of a body, the method comprising:
 receiving microwave data from a plurality of remote data acquisition sites in a centralized computing environment specially configured to receive the microwave data and reconstruct at least one image based on the microwave data to generate a reconstructed image.   
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises:
 storing past microwave data from the plurality of remote data acquisition sites; and   comparing the past microwave data with present microwave data and generating seed information for reconstruction.   
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises:
 storing past diagnoses associated with past image reconstructions in a centralized database; and   using past diagnoses to suggest a diagnosis for a present microwave image.   
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises:
 generating microwave images in a DICOM compatible format.   
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises:
 relating dielectric values of a reconstructed image to Hounsfield values.