Prostate Mechanical Imaging

Prostate Mechanical Imager (PMI) developed in Artann with the support of NIH grants is a new tool for prostate cancer screening allowing for visualization of prostate in terms of its elastic properties. An image of the prostate and its internal structures is generated by the PMI based on the measurement of the mechanical stress patterns on the gland surface through the rectal wall with pressure sensor arrays. PMI provides a real-time 3-D image of the prostate and detects the presence and location of abnormalities within the gland. The PMI enables a physician to visually examine and store a 3-D reconstructed image of the prostate and evaluate prostate volume, elasticity and elasticity contrast.

PMI has been evaluated in a pilot clinical study with 168 patients. Results of this study were published in the journal Urology and this publication has been featured in the Research Highlights section of Nature Clinical Practice Urology.

Artann is working with the ProUroCare Medical, Inc., a Minnesota based company, on development of the ProUroScan™, a first commercial device for the prostate imaging built on the principles of the Mechanical Imaging technology. The ProUroScan™ is an imaging device designed to standardize the documentation of  the prostate abnormalities detected by DRE.  Currently, the PMI technology is under FDA review.

Examples of prostate examination results obtained by the Mechanical Imager

1. Egorov V, Sarvazyan AP, "Prostate mechanical imaging probe", USA Pat. No. D638,946; May 31, 2011.
2. Sarvazyan AP, Egorov V, Kanilo S, Ayrapetyan S. Method and device for real time mechanical imaging of prostate. USA Patent No. 7,922,674; April 12, 2011.
3. Sarvazyan AP, Egorov V, Ayrapetyan S. Method and a dual-array transducer probe for real time mechanical imaging of prostate. USA Patent No. 7,819,824; October 26, 2010.
4. A new 3D imaging technique for prostate examination. Nature Clinical Practice Urology 2008; 5:291-2.
5. Weiss R, Egorov V, Ayrapetyan S, Sarvazyan N, Sarvazyan A: Prostate mechanical imaging: a new method for prostate assessment. Urology 2008 Mar; 71(3):425-9.
6. Egorov V, Ayrapetyan S, Sarvazyan A: Prostate mechanical imaging: 3-D image composition and feature calculations. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging 2006; 25(10):1329-40.
7. Egorov V, Sarvazyan A, Ayrapetyan S: Prostate mechanical imaging: 3-D image composition and feature calculations. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 2006; in press.
8. Sarvazyan A: Model-based imaging. Ultrasound in Med & Biol 2006; 32(11):1712-20.
9. Weiss R et al: In vitro trial of the pilot prototype of the prostate mechanical imaging system. Urology 2001; 58:1059-63.
10. Sarvazyan AP: Mechanical Imaging: A new technology for medical diagnostics. Int J Med Inf 1998; 49:195-216.
11. Niemczyk P et al: Correlation of mechanical imaging and histopathology of radical prostatectomy specimens: a pilot study. Urology 1998; 160:797-801.
12. Sarvazyan AP: Computerized palpation is more sensitive than human finger. Proc 12th Int Symposium on Biomedical Measurements and Instrumentation 1998; Dubrovnik-Croatia, 523-4.
13. Sarvazyan AP, Spector AA: Computerized palpation of the prostate: experimental and mathematical modeling of the stress-strain fields. Proc IEEE Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems 1998; Lubbock, Texas, 110-12.
14. Sarvazyan AP: Knowledge-based mechanical imaging of the prostate. Proc MEDTEC’97 1997; Tysons Corner, VA, USA, 87-94.
15. Niemczyk P et al: Mechanical Imaging, a new technology for cancer detection. Surgical Forum 1996; 47:823-5.