Sub-millimeter Simultaneous SPECT-CT for Imaging

描述(由申请人提供)： 我们建议开发一种单一的台式动物扫描仪，它将获得两种成像方式的功能SPECT图像和解剖CT图像，空间分辨率均为亚毫米。亚毫米SPECT-CT将为小鼠提供一种广泛应用的非侵入性功能成像技术，包括开发新的放射药物，评估新的治疗方法，以及研究转基因和基因敲除小鼠的基本生物学过程。这将使研究人员能够在同一动物的多个时间点进行一系列成像研究，以调查肿瘤生长、组织病理学、治疗效果以及新诊断试剂的作用机制。该系统将在利用小动物促进我们对人类疾病过程的理解的研究中具有广泛的适用性和重大影响。在第一阶段，我们成功地完成了所有拟议的可行性研究，以证明SPECT/CT具有1.3 mm固有空间分辨率的伽马性能，E范围从30keV到350keV，在140keV和-100微米CT能力下，增量E/E=12%，来自50xS0 mm的基于CMOS的数字X射线探测器。此外，我们还获得了优秀的安乐死小鼠的双SPECT-CT图像。在二期工程期间，我们将完成高分辨率SPECT和传输CT子系统的集成，并开发所有必要的硬件和软件。其结果将是一个全功能的双模式扫描仪，用于小动物的解剖和定量代谢成像。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We are proposing to develop a single, bench-top animal scanner that will acquire both functional SPECT images and anatomical CT images with sub-millimeter spatial resolution for both imaging modalities. The sub-mm SPECT-CT will provide a technique for noninvasive functional imaging in mice for a wide range of applications, including the development of new radio-pharmaceuticals, assessment of new therapeutic approaches, and investigation of fundamental biological processes in transgenic and knockout mice. This would allow investigators to perform serial imaging studies in the same animal at multiple time points to investigate tumor growth, tissue pathology, the effects of therapy, and the mechanism of action of new diagnostic agents. The system will have wide applicability and significant impact in research that uses small animals to advance our understanding of human disease processes. During phase I we successfully completed all proposed feasibility studies to demonstrate SPECT/CT with gamma performance of 1.3mm intrinsic spatial resolution, E range from 30keV to 350keV, and,deltaE/E=12% at 140keV and - 100mu m CT capability from a 50xS0mm CMOS based digital x-ray detector. In addition, we acquired outstanding dual SPECT-CT images of euthanized mice. During the phase II project we will complete the integration of the high-resolution SPECT and transmission CT subsystems and develop all necessary hardware and software. The result will be a fully functional dual-modality prototype scanner for anatomical and quantitative metabolic imaging of small animals.