Novel tetrahedron beam CT for point-of-care imaging in ear, nose and throat imaging

摘要 床旁成像是非常需要在耳鼻喉科诊所的诊断耳，鼻，喉 (ENT)包括癌症在内的疾病。由于图像质量有限，目前的锥束CT（CBCT）产品 多层螺旋CT（MSCT）在颌面和耳鼻喉科的诊断中不是替代而是补充 显像新兴的多源X射线源技术提出了CT系统的新设计， 具有更快的成像速度、改进的图像质量、减少的辐射暴露和紧凑的几何形状。 四面体射束计算机断层扫描（TBCT）是一种基于线阵多路扫描的紧凑型容积CT， 像素X射线源可以产生诊断质量的体积图像， 几何比CBCT。在第一阶段的研究中，我们成功地开发了一个台式ENT-TBCT系统 使用内部开发的多像素电子发射X射线（MPTEX）源和最先进的 商业光子计数探测器（PCD），并证明了优越的上级图像质量，TBCT可以 achieve.在第二阶段的研究中，我们将进一步完善MPTEX来源，并开发临床 原型系统为达致这个目标，我们建议进行研究，以达致以下具体目标： 目的（SA）：SA 1：开发可旋转密封MPTEX源; SA 2：开发临床ENT-TBCT 旋转机架上的原型; SA 3：开发高级图像重建算法并执行 基准成像研究。这项研究的结果将是一个非常有效的即时诊断 耳鼻喉科临床的成像模式。ENT-TBCT系统的未来商业化将得到改善 通过支持耳鼻喉癌症和其他疾病的及时诊断和治疗，提高质量和疗效。

ABSTRACT Point-of-care imaging is highly desired in otolaryngologic clinics for the diagnosis of ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases including cancers. Due to limited image quality, current cone-beam CT (CBCT) products act not as a substitute but rather as a complement to diagnostic Multi-slice CT (MSCT) in maxillofacial and ENT imaging. The emerging multi-source x-ray source technology suggests new designs of CT systems that may have faster imaging speed, improved image quality, reduced radiation exposure, and compact geometries. Tetrahedron Beam Computed Tomography (TBCT) is a compact volumetric CT based on linear array multi- pixel x-ray sources which can produce diagnostic-quality volumetric images but in a much more compact geometry than CBCT. During Phase I study, we successfully developed a benchtop ENT-TBCT system using a multi-pixel thermionic emission x-ray (MPTEX) source developed in-house and a state-of-art commercial photon-counting detector (PCD), and demonstrated the superior image quality that TBCT can achieve. During the Phase II study, we will further refine the MPTEX source and develop a clinical prototype system. To achieve this goal, we propose to perform studies to achieve the following Specific Aims (SA): SA 1: To develop a rotatable sealed MPTEX source; SA 2: To develop a clinical ENT-TBCT prototype on a rotating gantry; and SA 3: To develop advanced image reconstruction algorithm and perform benchmark imaging studies. The outcome of this research will be a highly effective point-of-care diagnostic imaging modality for otolaryngologic clinics. Future commercialization of the ENT-TBCT system will improve the quality and efficacy by supporting prompt diagnosis and treatment of ENT cancers and other diseases.