Solid State Beta Imaging Sensor for Radioguided Surgery

描述（由申请人提供）：放射制药的进步极大地增加了手术中伽马探针的使用。这种探针提供的好处是增加组织特异性获得活检，微创切口，减少住院病人的医院利用率与提高病人的康复。目前，市场上的大多数探针都是非成像的伽马探针，缺乏调查区域的辅助信息，如恶性组织的清晰描绘。此外，来自身体其他部位的高穿透性伽马辐射增加了本底，限制了这些探针的实际使用。我们正在通过设计新一代术中探针来解决这些局限性，该探针旨在用短距离β射线快速成像肿瘤床。该探头基于两种创新技术的结合，即高分辨率、高效率的闪烁体与高灵敏度、低噪声的读出传感器相结合。提出的设备将允许对调查区域进行实时成像，以快速准确地描绘病变。第二阶段的研究将集中在开发一个全功能的原型，并通过进行详细的动物研究来证明其功效。这种新的成像技术在医疗和非医疗应用方面都有巨大的潜力。据估计，在该项目下开发的探测器和其他技术的市场规模将远远超过1亿美元。这个市场的很大一部分代表了相关技术将产生重大影响的领域。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Advances in radiopharmaceutical have dramatically escalated the use of intraoperative gamma probes in surgery. Such probes provide benefits of increased tissue specificity obtained for biopsy, minimally accessed incisions, and the reduction of inpatient hospital utilization with an improved patient recovery. At present most of the probes on the market are non-imaging gamma probes that suffer from the lack of ancillary information of the surveyed area, such as clear delineation of malignant tissue. Also, the highly penetrating gamma radiation arising from other parts of the body increases the background and limits the practical use of these probes. We are addressing these limitations by designing a new-generation intraoperative probe intended to rapidly image the tumor bed with short-range beta rays. The probe is based on a combination of two innovative technologies, namely a high resolution, high efficiency scintillator coupled to a high sensitivity, low noise readout sensor. The proposed device will allow real time imaging of the surveyed area for rapid and accurate delineation of lesions. The Phase II research will be focused on developing a fully functional prototype and demonstrating its efficacy by performing detailed animal studies. This new imaging technology has enormous potential in both medical and non-medical applications. The estimated market size for probes and other technologies being developed under this program is well over one hundred million dollars. A significant fraction of this market represents areas where the involved technologies will have a major impact.