A Novel Device to Allow Zoom-In Imaging for PET Scanners

一种允许 PET 扫描仪放大成像的新型设备

• 批准号: 7075594
• 负责人: YUAN-CHUAN TAI
• 金额: $ 42.07万
• 依托单位: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-09-01 至 2008-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7075594
• 关键词: bioimaging /biomedical imaging; biomedical equipment development; clinical biomedical equipment; clinical research; computed axial tomography; computer simulation; electromagnetic radiation; evaluation /testing; human subject; image enhancement; light scattering; method development; patient oriented research; positron emission tomography; whole body imaging /scanning

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Positron emission tomography (PET) has been widely accepted for clinical imaging for oncologic, cardiac and neurological applications. The current trend of design favors high-efficiency median-resolution scanners to minimize the scan time for whole body imaging protocols. The smallest object detectable and the quantitative accuracy of PET imaging are directly related to the scanner resolution. The emerging field of molecular imaging to study disease models, pharmacokinetics of new drugs, and gene expression using small laboratory animals via in vivo imaging has shown promising results. The techniques and models developed from laboratory animal studies will soon require clinical trials to provide validation and further development for human applications. The success of such translation relies on high-resolution human PET systems to advance the molecular imaging research to clinical applications. The goal of this project is to develop the technology required to provide high-resolution PET images of the organs of interest at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated high-resolution PET scanner. The proposed design is a detector insert that can be attached to a whole-body PET scanner to provide high-resolution images within a smaller field of view, a concept similar to the use of surface coils in MRI to improve its image resolution. Since the device is designed as an accessory detector, its cost is significantly lower than a complete system. The image resolution within the regions of interest can be as low as 3 mm FWHM or smaller, depending on the design of the detectors, the dimension of the insert, and the original system resolution. The sensitivity of such a device may be more than twofold of a stand-alone high resolution system using the same detectors. The R21 phase of this project provides feasibility study of the design, while the R33 phase is to implement a prototype device for an existing PET scanner. The specific aims of the R21 phase are (1) develop APD-based high-resolution PET detector, (2) validate the image resolution and sensitivity of the proposed device via simulation and experiment, and (3) evaluate the effect of scatter from the device and develop a rejection technique. The specific aims of the R33 phase are: (1) Construct the device, (2) integrate the device to an existing PET scanner, (3) develop image reconstruction algorithms for the special geometry, and (4) test the device and evaluate its performance. The immediate applications of the prototype device include high-resolution imaging for head and neck tumors and lymph nodes, brain tumors, and brain functions. The design earl be extended to develop special inserts to image cancers involving breasts, lungs, and prostate. The outcome of this project will make a significant advancement in high resolution human PET imaging for both clinical and research applications.

描述（由申请人提供）： 正电子发射断层扫描 (PET) 已被广泛接受用于肿瘤、心脏和神经学应用的临床成像。当前的设计趋势有利于高效中分辨率扫描仪，以最大限度地缩短全身成像协议的扫描时间。 PET 成像的可检测最小物体和定量精度与扫描仪分辨率直接相关。利用小型实验动物通过体内成像研究疾病模型、新药药代动力学和基因表达的分子成像新兴领域已经显示出有希望的结果。从实验室动物研究中开发出来的技术和模型很快将需要临床试验来为人类应用提供验证和进一步开发。这种转化的成功依赖于高分辨率人体 PET 系统将分子成像研究推进到临床应用。该项目的目标是开发所需的技术，以专用高分辨率 PET 扫描仪成本的一小部分提供感兴趣器官的高分辨率 PET 图像。所提出的设计是一种探测器插件，可以连接到全身 PET 扫描仪，在较小的视场内提供高分辨率图像，这一概念类似于在 MRI 中使用表面线圈来提高其图像分辨率。由于该设备被设计为附件检测器，因此其成本明显低于完整系统。感兴趣区域内的图像分辨率可以低至 3 mm FWHM 或更小，具体取决于探测器的设计、插入件的尺寸和原始系统分辨率。这种设备的灵敏度可能是使用相同探测器的独立高分辨率系统的两倍以上。该项目的 R21 阶段提供了设计的可行性研究，而 R33 阶段则是为现有 PET 扫描仪实现原型设备。 R21阶段的具体目标是（1）开发基于APD的高分辨率PET探测器，（2）通过模拟和实验验证所提出设备的图像分辨率和灵敏度，以及（3）评估散射的影响装置并开发排斥技术。 R33 阶段的具体目标是：(1) 构建设备，(2) 将设备集成到现有 PET 扫描仪，(3) 开发特殊几何形状的图像重建算法，以及 (4) 测试设备并评估其性能表现。该原型设备的直接应用包括头颈肿瘤和淋巴结、脑肿瘤和脑功能的高分辨率成像。该设计还可以扩展，开发特殊的插入物来对涉及乳腺癌、肺癌和前列腺的癌症进行成像。该项目的成果将在临床和研究应用的高分辨率人体 PET 成像方面取得重大进展。