Matrix-Addressable X-ray Source for Medical Imaging: Prototyping Studies

用于医学成像的矩阵可寻址 X 射线源：原型研究

基本信息

批准号：
7851338
负责人：
PAUL R SCHWOEBEL
金额：
$ 26.43万
依托单位：
SRI INTERNATIONAL
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2009
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2009-06-01 至 2013-05-31
项目状态：
已结题

项目摘要

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Since the introduction of computed tomography (CT) in the early 1970s, x-ray based tomographic imaging has become a fundamental tool employed in nearly all areas of medicine, including cancer screening and research. SRI International is developing a new stationary x-ray source with the potential to revolutionize tomographic imaging technology. The possibility for increased imaging speed and the implementation of novel acquisition geometries imparted by such a source could lead to the development of compact, affordable CT and digital tomosynthesis systems for use in hospitals, clinics, rural areas, and laboratories, and thereby benefit both the medical care and research fields. We have investigated the physical principles underlying a new stationary x-ray source approach based on microfabricated cold cathode technology. Our studies have demonstrated the potential of the stationary source to provide the flux and fluence required by many medical imaging applications. These earlier studies focused on investigating the x-ray production characteristics (x-ray flux, fluence, and focal spot size) of the individual x- ray source elements that would be grouped to form the stationary source. Here we propose to demonstrate the utility of the stationary source for medical imaging, in terms of x-ray emission characteristics and reliability, with a fully functional stationary source. The stationary source will be applied to digital tomosynthesis imaging of small animals, as this is a reasonably straightforward implementation of tomographic imaging for our prototyping studies. Although directed toward small animal imaging, the results of the stationary source studies will be applicable to other DT systems, such as those under investigation for human breast imaging. The specific aims of this R21 proposal are to: 1) construct a stationary x-ray source and source evaluation testbed and 2) use this testbed to evaluate performance of the stationary x-ray source. The successful completion of the proposed study will expedite development of this new stationary x-ray source approach and could result in an arguably revolutionary improvement in x-ray source technology for tomographic medical imaging systems. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We propose to significantly improve medical imaging technology by developing an x-ray imaging system that will allow cancer researchers to take three-dimensional x-ray motion pictures. The potential for increased imaging speed, reduced system cost, and the implementation of novel acquisition geometries imparted by such a device could lead to the development of compact, affordable CT and digital tomosynthesis systems for use in hospitals, clinics, rural areas, and laboratories, and thereby benefit both the medical care and research fields.

描述（由申请人提供）：自 20 世纪 70 年代初引入计算机断层扫描 (CT) 以来，基于 X 射线的断层扫描成像已成为几乎所有医学领域使用的基本工具，包括癌症筛查和研究。 SRI International 正在开发一种新型固定 X 射线源，有可能彻底改变断层扫描成像技术。提高成像速度和实施由这种源赋予的新颖采集几何结构的可能性可能会导致紧凑型、负担得起的 CT 和数字断层合成系统的开发，用于医院、诊所、农村地区和实验室，从而使医疗保健和研究领域。我们研究了基于微制造冷阴极技术的新型固定 X 射线源方法的物理原理。我们的研究证明了固定源提供许多医学成像应用所需的通量和通量的潜力。这些早期研究的重点是研究将被分组以形成固定源的各个 X 射线源元件的 X 射线产生特性（X 射线通量、注量和焦斑尺寸）。在这里，我们建议通过功能齐全的固定源，在 X 射线发射特性和可靠性方面展示固定源在医学成像中的实用性。固定源将应用于小动物的数字断层合成成像，因为这是我们原型研究中断层扫描成像的相当简单的实现。尽管针对小动物成像，固定源研究的结果将适用于其他 DT 系统，例如正在研究的人类乳腺成像系统。该 R21 提案的具体目标是：1）构建固定 X 射线源和源评估测试台，2）使用该测试台评估固定 X 射线源的性能。拟议研究的成功完成将加速这种新的固定 X 射线源方法的开发，并可能导致断层医学成像系统的 X 射线源技术的革命性改进。公共健康相关性：我们建议通过开发一种 X 射线成像系统来显着改进医学成像技术，该系统将使癌症研究人员能够拍摄三维 X 射线运动图像。这种设备具有提高成像速度、降低系统成本以及实施新颖的采集几何结构的潜力，可能会导致开发出紧凑、价格实惠的 CT 和数字断层合成系统，用于医院、诊所、农村地区和实验室。从而使医疗保健和研究领域受益。