Rapid determination of organ microstructure and vasculature via advanced x-ray micro-CT

近年来，微型ct领域取得了巨大的进步，活跃在该领域的公司数量呈指数级增长。然而，目前所有的微型ct都是以同样的方式完成的，使用标准的源/探测器技术并测量x射线衰减：这不仅限制了图像质量（例如微型ct具有有限的软组织对比度），而且还限制了技术本身的应用范围。本项目将采用新型的x射线技术、新型的x射线探测器和新型的图像传感机制，最终提供一种新型的三维x射线图像，该图像具有更高的分辨率、精美的软组织对比度以及通过有针对性地使用成像标记提取功能信息的能力，这些成像标记将与周围的解剖信息实时相关。2)目标和目标本项目的目标是单独优化“micro-CT 2.0”的所有新元素，以最佳集成的方式将它们组合起来，将它们应用于重大的生物医学问题，并评估现有技术的改进。优化能量敏感x射线检测：测试现有的能量分辨探测器技术，选择最适合我们目的的。目标2将探测器技术与源技术相匹配-测试具有不同x射线束特征的选定探测器并优化采集参数（能量阈值等）。目的3优化采集方式和空间分辨率——选择最优相位成像方法并与分辨率增强方案相结合。确定2-3个关键的生物医学领域（如前所述，我们最初的重点是胸腺，但其他领域将被探索，例如癌症和心血管）。目标5定量评估相对于现有技术的优势。随后将与更多的生物医学研究人员合作，扩大研究范围，并与合作公司合作，将获得的成果进行商业翻译。3)研究方法的新颖性这将彻底改变微型ct在生物医学研究中的应用，因为它将使目前不可能的研究成为可能。生物医学研究主要基于光学显微镜方法，其穿透深度和视野有限；这项研究的结果将允许以真正的三维方式从整个器官中提取相同的信息。它将被学术界和工业界共同采用，引领下一代CT扫描并最终实现体内翻译。这个项目将产生一种具有巨大潜力的全新成像方式。图像采集、图像重建、图像分析也有很大的重叠。4)与EPSRC的战略和研究领域保持一致物理和数学科学强国-我们将开发全新的成像和图像分析方法工程和技术前沿-我们将在成像技术方面实现跨步变革转变健康和医疗保健-上述技术的应用将对健康和医疗保健产生重大影响确保工程和物理科学的有效生态系统-我们促进工程和物理科学之间的合作来自生命和物理科学以及更广泛领域的研究人员将能够使用我们将开发的方法和技术。合作者主要的工业合作者是尼康，其他合作者是克里克研究所和儿童健康研究所。

1) Brief Description The field of micro-CT has seen massive advances over recent years, with an exponential growth in the number of companies active in the area. However all current micro-CT is done in the same way, using standard source/detector technology and measuring x-ray attenuation: not only does this limit image quality (e.g. micro-CT has limited soft tissue contrast), but also the application remit of the technology itself.This project will use novel x-ray technology, novel x-ray detectors and novel image sensing mechanisms, ultimately providing a new type of 3D x-ray images with higher resolution, exquisite soft-tissue contrast and the ability to extract functional information through targeted use of imaging markers which will be correlated in real time with the surrounding anatomical information. 2) Aims and ObjectivesThe objectives of this project are to optimise all new elements of the "micro-CT 2.0" individually, combine them in an optimally integrated fashion, apply them to significant biomedical problems and assess the improvements over existing technology.Objective 1 Optimised energy-sensitive x-ray detection: test available energy-resolved detector technology and select the best one for our purposes.Objective 2 Match detector technology to source technology - test selected detector with different x-ray beam characteristics and optimise acquisition parameters as a result (energy thresholds etc).Objective 3 Optimise acquisition modality and spatial resolution - select optimal phase-based imaging method and couple it with resolution enhancement scheme.Objective 4 Identify 2-3 key biomedical areas (as mention we have an initial emphasis on the thymus but additional areas will be explored e.g. cancer and cardiovascular).Objective 5 Quantitatively assess advantages over existing technology.Engagement with additional biomedical researchers will ensue to expand scope of research, and with collaborating companies to pursue commercial translation of the obtained results.3) Novelty of Research MethodologyThis will revolutionise the use of micro-CT in biomedical research as it will allow studies that are currently impossible. Biomedical research is largely based on optical microscopy methods which have limited penetration depth and field of view; the outcome of this research will allow extracting the same information from entire organs in a truly three-dimensional fashion. It will be picked up by academic and industrial communities alike, leading to next-generation CT scans and ultimately to in vivo translation. This project will generate a radically new imaging modality with huge potential. There is also significant overlap with image acquisition, image reconstruction, image analysis.4) Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areasThe physical and mathematical sciences powerhouse - We will develop radically new approaches to imaging and image analysis Frontiers in engineering and technology - We will create a step change in imaging technologyTransforming health and healthcare - Application of the above technology will have significant impact on health and healthcareEnsuring an effective ecosystem for engineering and physical sciences - We foster collaboration between researchers from the life & physical sciences and the wider community will be able to access the methods & technologies we'll develop5) CollaboratorsThe main industrial collaborator is Nikon, other collaborators are the Crick Institute and the Institute of Child Health.