Non-Invasive Breast Cancer Detection Using Co-Registered Multimodal Probes: Microwave Nearfield Radar Imaging (NRI), Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT), Ultrasound Imaging (US) And Thermoacoustic Imaging (TA)

A method of detecting cancer, comprising:

• using each of at least two imaging systems, performing an imaging modality that is different from others of the at least two imaging systems;
• providing, from each of the at least two imaging systems, sampled image data that is based on the image system's modality;
• using a processor and a memory with computer code instructions stored thereon,
• producing modeled image data, for each imaging modality, based on a common set of biophysical parameters;
• reconstructing, based on information received from each modeling unit, a set of joint biophysical properties;
• and
• revising the common set of biophysical parameters based on the set of joint biophysical properties;
• comparing the sampled image data from each of the imaging systems to the corresponding modeled image data to determine a difference between the sampled image data and the modeled image data and determining when the difference is less than a threshold difference, thereby indicating that the sampled image data and the modeled image data has converged;
• and
• classifying tissues corresponding to the image data as healthy or cancerous, based on the set of joint biophysical properties corresponding to the modeled image data upon convergence.

A system for distinguishing a state of human or animal cells from a normal state, the system comprising:

• at least two imaging systems, each of which implements an imaging modality different from others of the at least two imaging systems, and each of which provides sampled image data based on its modality;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory with computer code instructions stored thereon, the memory operatively coupled to the processor such that the computer code instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to implement:
• for each imaging modality, a modeling unit configured to produce modeled image data for that modality based on a common set of biophysical parameters;
• a joint non-linear inversion module configured to receive information from each modeling unit and reconstruct a set of j oint biophysical properties based on the information from the modeling units;
• and
• a scaling unit configured to revise the common set of biophysical parameters based on the set of joint biophysical properties;
• a comparator configured to compare the sampled image data from each of the imaging systems to the corresponding modeled image data to determine a difference between the sampled image data and the modeled image data and to determine when the difference is less than a threshold difference, thereby indicating that the sampled image data and the modeled image data has converged;
• and
• a classifier configured to classify tissues corresponding to the image data as being normal or in a morphologically atypical state based on the set of joint biophysical properties.