Pre-clinical and Clinical Evaluation of High Resolution, Mobile Gamma Camera and Positron Imaging Devices

Abstract

Abstract : The objective of this project is to design, build and evaluate a compact and mobile gamma and positron imaging camera. This imaging device has several advantages over conventional systems: (1) greater flexibility in positioning with respect to the target organ for improved spatial resolution and sensitivity, (2) the ability to image patients who cannot be transported to a radiology suite, (3) the potential for improved cost effectiveness for organ-specific imaging tasks compared with larger, general purpose imaging systems. Simulation studies have demonstrated the potential image quality that can be produced with this device operating in either dual gamma, coincidence mode or single gamma mode. Over the past year, the following tasks have been completed: mechanical testing of the system gantry, fabrication of the detectors, integration of the detectors and system gantry, and basic system performance evaluation using phantoms. The performance evaluation included the basic metrics of imaging performance including spatial resolution, system sensitivity, energy resolution and count rate capability. This report details the results of these measurements. The results, in summary, show the promise of this unique imaging device to provide essential diagnostic information for critically ill patients. Additional effort during the past year has focused on the preparation of the human subjects research protocol in anticipation of the further evaluation of this imaging system on clinical patients.