Micro-LDRI™ represents a diagnostic and therapeutic treatment tool for early stage cancers in soft tissue on a non-invasive, real-time and precise location basis. Unlike other diagnostic tools, the Micro LDRI™ tool can distinguish between malignant and benign cancer cells in situ with biopsy and incubation period. The unique portions of the technology are 1) a highly sensitive detector to locate cancer clusters, and 2) a real-time 3D imaging system to display the tumors and navigate the therapeutic removal tool strategy and 3) an integrated, non-invasive, real-time, precision hyperthermia treatment tool guided by the imaging system.
The Micro-LDRI™ detector improves detection of early stage to the level of less than 0.5 mm in diameter, whereas current CT and MRI technology can detect only tumors of 1.0 centimeter or larger. The improvement in metrics translates into a 400X improvement on a cross section basis and an 8,000X improvement on a volumetric basis. More importantly, the size metrics translate into detecting tumors as small as 300 cells, i.e. 12 to 17 years earlier than is currently possible to detect. This allows for detection and elimination of soft tissue tumors before they can metastasize. In addition, the system’s ability to distinguish between benign and malignant cells can eliminate unnecessary surgeries and chemotherapy treatments.
Breast cancer is one of the most pervasive killers in the U.S. today. From 15 to 30 percent of the 44,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year do not survive. There is a great need for non-invasive cancer diagnosis and treatment techniques, especially for breast cancer. Most current technologies are invasive and present significant problems such as secondary cancer exposure and long diagnostic/treatment time. Low image resolution is another concern, which is aggravated by human errors and leads to the misinterpretation of results.
Operation Micro LDRI™ is a breakthrough medical technology invented, developed and patented by Umbrella Technologies. Its main application is the safer diagnosis and treatment of patients with soft tissue tumors during early stages of tumor development, where existing methods do not produce adequate results. This technology allows doctors to work with three-dimensional images, permitting physicians to scan soft tissue organs with a degree of accuracy unattainable with traditional techniques. Micro LDRI™ is a hypersensitive receptor technology coupled with low-radiation radioactive tracers. It allows scanning of soft tissues with less than one-tenth the radiation dosage required by traditional diagnostic methods. This will permit more frequent and therefore more effective preventive checks for tumors. In addition, this technology offers a thousand-fold reduction in risk typical of higher radiation exposure associated with conventional methods.
Real-time tumor treatment! Using our hardware and software, data obtained by detectors is fed into a fast microcomputer. The software allows full rotation of the developed 3D images. The computer enhances the latent image in much the same manner that images from the Hubble Space Telescope are enhanced to provide sharper, clearer images of the object in view. Preliminary tests of this technology indicate that the accuracy of the data images produced could surpass existing MRI and CT scanning technologies by as much as 20 to 30 times in detail and accuracy and provide image development in real-time, significantly reducing diagnostic errors. Our technology combines a precision, real-time imaging system with low dosage radiation. The imaging system provides real-time feedback for precision control of treatment procedures and real-time 3-D image reconstruction.
Micro LDRITM offers not only early detection, but also precision in the location of tumors. It provides the ability to monitor effectiveness as treatments are being applied. When combined, hyperthermia and chemical therapies are an effective alternative to surgical treatment.
Traditional hyperthermia technology is unable to achieve the precise temperature control required in hyperthermia treatment to avoid damage to healthy tissue, and has thus been restricted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1989.
The technology used in Micro LDRITM ensures that treatment temperatures are high enough to be effective, but not so high that they cause damage to healthy tissues. Micro LDRITM will resurrect and enhance this proven therapy.
Saving Lives
This improvement in accuracy will allow for the safer diagnosis and treatment of tumors less than 0.5mm in diameter, whereas CT and MRI technology can only detect much larger tumors. For many patients, by the time traditional methods are able to identify malignant tumors, the disease has progressed to such a late stage that all a physician can offer is a prognosis of how many years the patient may have before they pass away. Diagnosing a tumor as small as 0.5mm means that a cancer may be diagnosed and treated from 7 to 12 years sooner. This increase in successful treatment of soft tissue tumors offers the opportunity for elimination of the cancer before it can metastasize. Micro LDRI permits more frequent and therefore more effective preventative checks for tumors. If tumors are found, treatment can start in the very early stages due to the low level radiation used by this system. In addition, this technology significantly reduces the risks typical of conventional higher-radiation methods.
Using technology developed for the Strategic Defense Initiative (“Star Wars”), Micro LDRI utilizes near-field antennae and an energy control system. This provides precise targeting of hyperthermia therapy in conjunction with metabolism monitoring. This real-time metabolism monitoring and temperature feedback information allows heat treatment real-time adaptation and reduces the risk of tissue damage, a concern which has significantly restricted the possibility of hyperthermia treatments in the past.
“Micro LDRI™ offers doctors the ability to eradicate tumors completely non-invasively, thus eliminating the process of repetitive surgeries which many patients currently undergo.”
When combined, hyperthermia and chemical therapies are an effective alternative to surgical treatment.
DevelopmentOur initial development has been very promising. Bench-testing of devices that use the new technology and software shows that we will be able to deliver a product with capabilities far beyond any of today’s tools. With ongoing research, we will continually be improving its effectiveness. Our technology, algorithms and software have patent protection. We believe that this portable and groundbreaking technology will have applications in all fields of oncology. We also anticipate that many other new methods of cancer diagnostics and treatment based on Micro LDRI™ will be developed in the future.
Cost Effectiveness
“Early-Stage Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment for a Small Planet.” One of the many advantages of the Micro LDRI™ approach is its cost-effectiveness. This technology has the potential to supplement or replace diagnostic methods requiring expensive equipment typically found at only the largest medical centers. We anticipate that the final production cost of this device will allow its acquisition by virtually any hospital, clinic, or research center. The final production-level price may even be low enough to allow for purchase and use by private practitioners.
It may also spur the development of many new methods of treatment which require the online, real-time monitoring of metabolic responses to radiation, chemotherapy, and other treatments that can be achieved with Micro LDRI™.
While the development and delivery of this product has vast commercial potential, it is most exciting in its potential to revolutionize treatment of some of the most deadly forms of cancer.
Micro LDRI™ Advantages
Micro LDRI™ has the potential to replace many of the massive CT and MRI scanners currently in use. The advantages in terms of cost and utility of this device, which can be connected to a desktop PC, are at least as significant as its early-detection capabilities.
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