Prostate Mechanical Imager (PMI) provides a real-time 3-D image of the prostate and detects the presence and location of abnormalities within the gland. PMI enables a physician to visually examine and store a 3-D reconstructed image of the prostate. The utility of PMI is similar to the utility provided by digital rectal examination (DRE), which is currently considered a standard of care for men over the age of 50. The PMI can minimize subjectivity in the DRE by providing an easy-to-use and accurate tool for visualizing abnormalities of the prostate. The PMI includes a transrectal probe with two separate pressure sensor arrays and an orientation sensor, a data acquisition and processing unit. Prior to clinical studies the performance of PMI was extensively tested on phantoms to determine imaging accuracy, reproducibility, inter-system and inter-operator reproducibility for generating 3-D real time image. The assessment of the PMI’s ability to image the human prostate and detect areas of hardness was first addressed in multiple clinical studies. The PMI provided data sufficient for image reconstruction of the prostate in 84%-98% of study cases. It has the potential for prostate cancer screening. Artann received FDA approval in 2012 for the mechanical imaging device for the prostate.


Selected Publications and Patents
  1. A new 3D imaging technique for prostate examination. Nature Clinical Practice Urology 2008; 5:291-2.
  2. Weiss R, Egorov V, Ayrapetyan S, Sarvazyan N, Sarvazyan A: Prostate mechanical imaging: a new method for prostate assessment. Urology 2008; 71(3):425-9.
  3. Egorov V, Ayrapetyan S, Sarvazyan A. Prostate mechanical imaging: 3-D image composition and feature calculations. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging2006; 25(10):1329-40.
  4. Sarvazyan A. Model-based imaging.Ultrasound in Med & Biol2006; 32(11):1712-20.
  5. Weiss R. et al: In vitro trial of the pilot prototype of the prostate mechanical imaging system.Urology2001; 58:1059-63.
  6. Niemczyk P et al: Correlation of mechanical imaging and histopathology of radical prostatectomy specimens: a pilot study.Urology1998; 160:797-801.
  7. Niemczyk P et al: Mechanical Imaging, a new technology for cancer detection.Surgical Forum1996; 47:823-5.
  8. Sarvazyan A, Egorov V. Hand-held probe for prostate cancer screening.USA Patents8,016,777; September 13, 2011.
  9. Egorov V, Sarvazyan AP. Prostate mechanical imaging probe.USA Design PatentD638,946; May 31, 2011.
  10. Sarvazyan AP, Egorov V, Kanilo S, Ayrapetyan S. Method and device for real time mechanical imaging of prostate.USA Patent7,922,674; April 12, 2011.
  11. Sarvazyan AP, Egorov V, Ayrapetyan S. Method and a dual-array transducer probe for real time mechanical imaging of prostate.USA Patent7,819,824; October 26, 2010.
  12. Sarvazyan A, Egorov V. Real time mechanical imaging of the prostate.USA Patent 6,569,108, May 27, 2003.
  13. Sarvazyan AP, Egorov V. Device for palpation and mechanical imaging of the prostate.USA PatentNo. 6,142,959, Nov 7, 2000.
  14. Sarvazyan A. Method for using a transrectal probe to mechanically image the prostate gland.USA Patent5,922,018, July 13, 1999.
  15. Sarvazyan A. Method and device for mechanical imaging of prostate.USA Patent5,785,663, Jul. 28, 1998.