NTB: What conditions could image fusion identify?

Dr. Boyle: Several. It could monitor for cancer. It could monitor the heart, whether it is enlarged or atrophied, or is experiencing any change in valvular structure. The kidneys could also pose potential problems, such as kidney stones. These are the types of problems one could monitor on a daily basis or once a week as needed to see if something is developing.

NTB: Are astronauts currently using image fusion?

Dr. Boyle: Not at the moment. The durations of current missions tend to be short. Once we get into long-duration flight, we would like to be able to provide some means of diagnostic aid. Ultrasound is the only thing available for in-orbit missions right now, primarily because of weight and its low power consumption. MRIs and CT scanners are extremely heavy and very power-hungry. Getting something that heavy and power-consuming into orbit is prohibitive.

NTB: Does the process have Earth-bound applications?

Dr. Boyle: It is being used now in various operating theaters. Primarily, doctors are mixing CT scans with MRIs, combining images of hard and soft tissue, with some of the functional studies from PET and SPECT scans. These can be used to monitor the tissue as a probe is introduced, either for bleeding in a particular area, or for injecting some enhancing agent that will attack or help cure different types of cancers. Image fusion is being used, and it is becoming more and more prevalent. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) now has a new institute that looks specifically at this line of study.

A full transcript of this interview appears online at www.techbriefs.com/whoswho. For more information, contact Dr. Richard Boyle, PhD, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it