Ow! Ouch! That hurt! Many people are believed to have suffered from inflamed wisdom teeth. Typically, wisdom teeth don't cause any discomfort, but when they become inflamed, the pain is unbearable. This severe pain can disrupt work, eating, and sleep, leaving your face swollen like a balloon. Ultimately, you may be compelled to have them extracted. When you visit the hospital, an X-ray is usually the first step. This is crucial as it helps determine whether extensive dental work is necessary. In dental imaging, periapical (PA) and panoramic (PR) radiography are commonly used techniques. Additionally, there's a "hawk-eye" option known as cone-beam computed tomography (cone-beam CT, CBCT). Dr. Tianye Niu, a Senior Principal Investigator at SZBL, is particularly noteworthy when discussing cone-beam CT. Many experts and scholars believe that high-resolution medical imaging technology is a crucial direction for the future of medicine. With over 20 years of expertise, Dr. Tianye Niu has been making significant contributions to the advancement of medical imaging technology in China.
Harnessing Technology to Forge a "See-Through Eye" for Unraveling Life's Mysteries
When someone falls ill, they may exhibit a range of symptoms including fever, cough, headache, and abdominal bloating. These general symptoms, however, are not enough for a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. In such cases, the "eye" of clinical medicine—medical imaging—becomes essential to enhance the doctor's "vision" and pinpoint the underlying condition.
Throughout many years of his researches, Dr. Niu has identified that the broad cone angle in traditional cone-beam CT scans frequently causes significant signal scattering. Additionally, involuntary movements like heartbeats and intestinal peristalsis contribute to image blurring. These issues complicate quantitative imaging and ultimately reduce the diagnostic accuracy of dentists.
How can cone-beam CT provide doctors with more precise "navigation" data to devise personalized treatment plans for patients? Dr. Niu’s research offers innovative solutions to address this issue.
Dr. Niu Tianye was explaining the theory of quantitative cone-beam CT for precision imaging.
"By enhancing the contrast of cone-beam CT images and correcting image scattering, we can resolve these issues. That's the ultimate goal for me and my team."
Therefore, Dr. Niu and his team have established a pioneering theory of quantitative cone-beam CT precision imaging based on energy spectrum projection data. By analyzing the motion characteristics within the projection data, they were able to correct object motion artifacts and developed cutting-edge image quantitative analysis technologies. These advancements enhance quantitative tissue identification in cone-beam CT, improve image accuracy, and enable four-dimensional dynamic imaging, effectively breaking through previous technical limitations.
At the same time, he collaborated with famous domestic medical device manufacturers to develop a range of high-resolution cone-beam CT imaging equipment and system software. These technologies are used in animal imaging experiments at numerous domestic hospitals and for product quality control in various companies, effectively supporting the domestic replacement of essential CT equipment technologies.
"There are many challenges," conceded Dr. Niu, but he quickly added, "if there are challenges, they are worth exploring. Just set your sights on the goal and address the issues one at a time."
In his view, the outcomes of years of research will deliver a great deal of excitement and satisfaction to researchers.
Innovative Development of the "Portable Scanner"
"Many public spaces in Shenzhen are now equipped with lifesaving devices known as AEDs. I often think how beneficial it would be to have a mobile cone-beam CT device that could examine patients anytime, anywhere."
Dr. Niu moved his eyes quickly to focus on next goal when a scientific research "fortress" is conquered. He made a decision in 2022 to develop a portable head cone-beam CT imaging device.
The development of this equipment also presented significant challenges. "The authorities enforce strict radiation protection standards, and many specialized treatment facilities lack adequate radiation protection. Therefore, our primary challenge is achieving low-dose imaging," Dr. Niu explained. He recalled that during that period, he would arrive at the Laboratory early each day to plan the direction of the research and the content of the experiments, leading his team to derive the necessary physics equations. Even after returning home, he habitually checked the team's WeChat group for any unread messages, ready to promptly respond and provide solutions to any questions or issues that arose.
Facing numerous challenges, Dr. Niu actively collaborated with his team and delved deeply into their research.
During his experiments with the team, Dr. Niu discovered that the device lacked sufficient rigidity, causing a 0.7 mm offset at the imaging isocenter. This misalignment resulted in the reconstructed mold body displaying an artifact that appeared as two ellipses superimposed vertically on each other.
To address the 0.7mm offset, Dr. Niu voluntarily gave up his holiday to work solo in the partner unit's workshop. There, he analyzed various factors including the motor's torque, the rack's rigidity, and the force and deformation of both the ball tube and the detector's fixture. With his unwavering commitment to solving problems, Dr. Niu finally made a breakthrough that addressed the issue of poor overall stability in the equipment, which stemmed from the low rigidity of the rack lifting platform.
“Our team has invested considerable time and effort into the successful development of this device, which has now completed pre-clinical trials. We hope it will serve as a valuable tool for healthcare professionals in the future and bring treatment options to more patients.” Dr. Niu said.
He envisions that this device could be adapted for use in specialized scenarios, such as on vehicles and ships, to provide essential medical support during extreme situations like natural disasters and safety accidents.
"Choosing to come to Shenzhen was the right decision."
"The field of biomedical engineering in Shenzhen is advancing rapidly, supported by numerous scientific research institutions and innovative companies." Dr. Niu continued, "The abundance of scientific talent and advanced equipment here has provided me with a wealth of research resources and numerous opportunities for collaboration."
Dr. Tianye Niu was interviewed at the Zhuhai Airshow
When asked about the potential for integrating quantitative cone-beam CT precision imaging with artificial intelligence in the future, Dr. Niu responded with great anticipation.
"Quantitative cone-beam CT technology, known for its high resolution and precise positioning capabilities, holds broad application prospects in the medical field." Dr. Niu explained, "Artificial intelligence technology is increasingly being utilized across various sectors, providing robust technical support for the analysis and interpretation of medical images."
Currently, Dr. Niu and his team are leveraging AI analysis capabilities to utilize quantitative cone-beam CT images in the field of post-processing, aiming to achieve non-reconstructive disease diagnosis." In the future, we plan to implement all-digital simulations in this field using AI technologies, including digital twins, to achieve cost reductions and enhance efficiency. This approach will enable multi-scenario applications and facilitate the upgrading of equipment."
Dr. Niu often reminds his team: "Both now and in the future, the advancement of high-end medical devices is directly connected to people's health and well-being."
"Our goal is to push forward, break through the foreign 'bottlenecks' in our key technologies, and strive to increase the domestic production of high-end medical devices."
Editor: Winston, Paula
For more information, please contact media@szbl.ac.cn
