Introduction:
This technology is software that provides a novel, quantitative assessment of the functional characteristics of the human spinal cord (adult or pediatric) by generating an axonal damage map that will help identify different injury/diseased states along the entire spinal cord. The market is the population of clinicians who are interested in advanced imaging of the spinal cord but lack the in-house resources to perform the required analysis. Currently, functional imaging of the spinal cord requires expertise in image acquisition, image processing, and analysis. This software will enable clinicians to undertake studies which previously required a dedicated team of scientists while also enhancing their own diagnostic capabilities.
Application and Advantages:
• Detailed visualization of abnormal functional characteristics for patients that have clear neurologic deficits while having MRI negative results of the spinal cord
• Facilitates a more quantitative and accurate assessment and diagnosis by clinicians
• Quantitative information derived from the software will be valuable for accurate localization and placement of viral vectors, among various other treatment interventions
Detailed Description:
The goal of this software is to be used by radiologists, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians to help more easily identify both traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury/diseases. Initially, this will have the most impact in the diagnostic realm; however, the intent is to integrate the software into navigational surgical systems and treatment plans to track therapeutic efficacy. In terms of treatment planning, the information obtained from this software can be used for accurate localization of the sites and regions where the cord is abnormal. A rigorous, robust processing pipeline will ensure that the acquired MRI data is rendered in manner allowing the most accurate results. Once processed, a sophisticated machine learning algorithm will retrieve key features of the calculated imaging metrics to make the best informed decision about the functional status of the spinal cord. This information will then be projected onto a reconstructed, subject specific, 3D image for prediction of disease sites and visualization of the areas impacted/present with a disease of injury in the spinal cord.
Relevant Patent Filings:
Provisional patent