Very High Resolution SPECT/CT System

描述（由申请人提供）： 本研究的长期目标是开发一种小动物SPECT/CT系统，该系统使用I-125标记的放射性示踪剂为人类疾病的小动物模型提供显着改善的成像性能。这一发展利用了最近开发的和商业上可用的电子轰击电荷耦合器件（EBCCD）技术。与位置灵敏光电倍增管（PSPMT）相比，它在探测低能γ射线时的空间分辨率有一个数量级的提高。探测器技术的这一进步可以转化为更好地估计试验动物体内的示踪剂分布。为了实现这一长期目标，为项目期间提出了两个具体目标： 1.实验证明，EBCCD器件能够提供一个显着提高的空间分辨率，用于检测从1-125的低能γ射线。预期的关键性能包括（1）~0的固有空间分辨率。1 mm，（2）对于30 keV的γ射线，信号水平为~5个光电子，以及（3）总噪声水平显著低于由1-125个γ射线引起的信号。 2.证明EBCCD器件的极高分辨率可转化为SPECT/CT成像的更高成像性能。我们将从两个方面来说明这种改进。首先，我们想构建一个原型SPECT/CT系统，将在实验性能评估进行测试。其次，我们想比较实际的系统性能与预测分析与理论工具，以前在密歇根大学开发。这将有助于我们深入了解小动物成像系统未来发展的要求和合适的设计工具。 这项调查也将创造机会，与密歇根大学的SAIRP，退伍军人事务部医疗保健系统在安阿伯和欧洲核子研究中心的调查人员合作研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long term goal of this investigation is to develop a small animal SPECT/CT system that provides a significantly improved imaging performance for small animal models of human diseases with I-125 labeled radiotracers. This development makes use of the recently developed and commercially available Electron Bombarded Charge Coupled Device (EBCCD) technology. Compared with the position sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT) tubes, it offers an order of magnitude improvement in the spatial resolution for detecting low energy gamma rays. This advance in detector technology may be translated into better estimates of the tracer distributions within test animals. In order to achieve this long-term goal, two specific aims are proposed for the project period: 1. Experimentally demonstrate that the EBCCD device is capable of providing a significant improved spatial resolution for detecting low energy gamma rays from 1-125. The expected key performances include (1) an intrinsic spatial resolution of ~0. 1mm, (2) a signal level of ~5 photoelectrons for gamma rays with 30keV and (3) a total noise level significantly lower than the signal induced by 1-125 gamma rays. 2. Demonstrate that the very high resolution of the EBCCD device can be translated into much improved imaging performance for SPECT/CT imaging. We will to show this improvement in two ways. First, we would like to construct a prototype SPECT/CT system that will be tested in experimental performance assessments. Second, we would like to compare the actual system performance with that predicted analytically with theoretical tools previously developed in the University of Michigan. This would help us to gain insights into the requirements and suitable design tools for future development of small animal imaging systems. This investigation will also create opportunities for collaborative studies with investigators of the University of Michigan's SAIRP, the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System at Ann Arbor and CERN.