Flat Panel X-ray Sources for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis System

用于数字乳腺断层合成系统的平板 X 射线源

• 批准号: 8251483
• 负责人: Mark E. Lucente
• 金额: $ 62.97万
• 依托单位: STELLARRAY, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-07-01 至 2014-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8251483
• 关键词: 3-Dimensional; Address; Algorithms; Anodes; Architecture; Breast; Breast Cancer Detection; Cancer Center; Cathodes; Collaborations; Collimator; Computer software; Detection; Development; Devices; Diagnosis; Doctor of Medicine; Dose; Early Diagnosis; Electronics; Evaluable Disease; Evaluation; Generations; Goals; Image; Individual; Lead; Location; Mammography; Masks; Metals; Methodology; Methods; Modeling; Motion; Output; Pattern; Phase; Play; Power Sources; Process; Qualifying; Radiation Oncologist; Research; Resolution; Roentgen Rays; Role; Scanning; Source; Specimen; Speed; Spottings; Staging; Structure; Surgeon; System; Systems Integration; Technology; Testing; Three-Dimensional Imaging; Time; Tube; University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center; Vacuum; Work; base; breast cancer diagnosis; density; design; design and construction; detector; digital; digital imaging; flexibility; improved; innovation; malignant breast neoplasm; millisecond; novel; operation; prototype; radiologist; reconstruction; seal; tool; voltage

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): X-ray mammography continues to be the primary tool for breast cancer screening and plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer. However, the difficulty in resolving overlapping structures in a 2-D projection image leads to reduced sensitivity. A number of research groups and companies are developing dedicated breast tomographic systems to overcome this problem. Most of the systems are based on the conventional mammographic tube mounted on a rotating gantry. These systems have long acquisition times and are hence prone to motion blur. Here we propose to develop a prototype digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) system based on our novel digitally addressable x-ray source (DAXS) panels in collaboration with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). The DAXS uses an innovative flat panel architecture in which field emission current from arrays of cold cathode field emitters formed in pixel configurations on the source exit window generates x-ray flux from a target opposite the exit window. The flux then passes through the emitters, out the window and on to the subject. The metal x-ray target is a broad, flat sheet which forms part of the vacuum envelope. Depending on the pitch between emitters, over 10,000 emitters can be patterned per mm2. We have demonstrated in Phase I, currents of over 100 5A from single emitters, so high current densities (e.g. 300 mA per mm2, or about 30 mA from the typical 0.3 mm spot size in mammography) are possible. Pixel flux levels can be modulated over a broad range by varying the emitter cathode-gate voltage. The ability to address x-ray pixels, and vary intensity, will offer new flexibility in delivering precise amounts of x-ray flux to target locations for dose modulation. Pixel address speeds are well under a few milliseconds, so motion blurring will be reduced. The flat panel architecture of the DAXS also allows the x-ray source to shift two dimensionally enabling the out-of-focal plane objects to be more effectively blurred with a 2-D kernel. Here we will build up on our Phase I efforts and construct several DAXS panels to be incorporated into a prototype DBT system along with a commercially available flat panel detector. The proposed DBT system will lead to a new generation of compact, fast, affordable and transportable breast tomographic systems for breast cancer screening, diagnosis and management. The primary impact of the proposed work will be to make breast cancer screening more accessible and convenient, and provide motion- free 3-D breast images to radiologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, for better detection, diagnosis and staging of breast cancers. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The prototype digital breast tomosynthesis system to be developed here is based on novel digitally addressable x-ray source panels which offer unique capabilities not available with current mammography x-ray sources. Since the x-ray pixels can be addressed electronically in few milliseconds no gantry motion is required and these can help reduce exposure time and dose and eliminate motion blurring problems associated with 3-D imaging. Such a device will make 3-D imaging mobile and affordable making more widely available to practitioners new tools and methodologies for early detection and more accurate diagnosis of breast cancer.

描述（由申请人提供）：X射线乳房X线摄影继续是乳腺癌筛查的主要工具，并在乳腺癌的诊断和管理中起着重要作用。但是，在二维投影图像中解决重叠结构的困难导致灵敏度降低。许多研究小组和公司正在开发专门的乳房断层系统来克服这个问题。大多数系统都是基于安装在旋转龙门上的传统乳房X线X射管。这些系统的收集时间很长，因此容易进行运动模糊。在这里，我们建议基于与M.D. Anderson Cancer Center（MDACC）合作，基于我们新颖的数字可寻址X射线源（DAXS）面板开发原型数字乳房合成（DBT）系统。 DAXS使用创新的平板体系结构，其中从源出口窗口上以像素配置形成的冷阴极场发射器阵列中的场发射电流从出口窗口对面的目标生成X射线通量。然后，通量通过发射器，向外窗外并进入主题。金属X射线目标是一个宽阔的平板，构成真空包膜的一部分。根据发射器之间的音高，每MM2可以构图超过10,000个发射器。我们已经在I期中证明了来自单个发射器的100多个5A的电流，因此可以在乳房X线摄影中典型的0.3 mm斑点大小（例如，每mm2 300 mA，每mm2 300 mA，约30 mA）。像素通量水平可以通过改变发射极阴极门电压在广泛范围内调节。解决X射线像素和不同强度的能力将为剂量调节的目标位置提供精确量的X射线通量提供新的灵活性。像素地址速度在几毫秒下良好，因此运动模糊。 DAXS的平面架构还允许X射线源在二维上移动二维，从而使远处的平面对象更有效地使用2-D内核进行模糊。在这里，我们将在我们的第一阶段努力上建立，并构建几个DAXS面板，并将其纳入原型DBT系统中，并使用市售的平板检测器。拟议的DBT系统将导致新一代紧凑，快速，负担得起和可运输的乳房断层系统用于乳腺癌筛查，诊断和管理。拟议工作的主要影响是使乳腺癌筛查更容易获得，并为放射科医生，外科医生，放射肿瘤学家提供无运动的3-D乳房图像，以更好地检测乳腺癌，诊断和分期。 公共卫生相关性：此处开发的原型数字乳房合成系统基于新颖的数字可寻址X射线源面板，这些X射线源面板提供了当前乳房X线X线X射线源无法获得的独特功能。由于X射线像素可以在几毫秒内以电子方式解决，因此无需龙门运动，并且可以帮助减少暴露时间和剂量并消除与3-D成像相关的运动模糊问题。这样的设备将使3D成像移动和负担得起，从而使从业者更广泛地使用新工具和方法，以便早期检测以及更准确的乳腺癌诊断。