IBEX Dynamic X-ray imaging of reduced iodine contrast agents in angiography procedures

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IBEX Innovations has successfully demonstrated, in a previous Development of Prototype project, the materials classification capability of its Multi-Absorption Plate (MAP) X-ray detector technology. The ability to identify materials in a medical image using the MAP technology integrated to a standard medical flat panel detector (FPD) offers significant benefits, including the ability to measure bone mineral density (BMD) on standard Digital Radiography (DR) equipment.Angiography systems use X-ray absorption contrast of a radio-opaque contrast agent, usually an iodine solution, to visualise blood vessels and organs in the body and are used to assist in diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions (Coronary Angiography) or brain conditions (Neuro-vascular Angiography).Iodine-based contrast agents are known to impair renal function through Contrast Induced Nephropathy (CIN) in around 2% of angiography procedures, increasing to 20-30% in high risk patients. This project seeks to demonstrate that the IBEX materials classification methods can identify contrast agents by their material type rather than their X-ray blockingcharacteristics. This offers the potential to image much lower concentrations of iodine with no loss in contrast, or to use new types of non-harmful contrast media that can be distinguished by virtue of their material differences from the structures of the body. The project will also demonstrate that the IBEX materials classification technology can generate images of moving contrast agent in in real time. Finally, the project will seek to demonstrate suppression of bone and tissue in the dynamic image as an alternative approach to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) methods.