Matrix-Addressable X-ray Source for Medical Imaging: Prototyping Studies

描述（由申请人提供）：自20世纪70年代早期引入计算机断层扫描（CT）以来，基于X射线的断层扫描成像已成为几乎所有医学领域（包括癌症筛查和研究）中采用的基本工具。SRI国际正在开发一种新的固定X射线源，有可能彻底改变断层成像技术。这种源所赋予的提高成像速度和实现新的采集几何形状的可能性可以导致开发用于医院、诊所、农村地区和实验室的紧凑的、负担得起的CT和数字断层合成系统，从而使医疗护理和研究领域受益。我们研究了一种基于微加工冷阴极技术的新型固定X射线源方法的物理原理。我们的研究已经证明了固定源提供许多医学成像应用所需的通量和注量的潜力。这些早期的研究集中于调查将被分组以形成固定源的各个X射线源元件的X射线产生特性（X射线通量、注量和焦斑尺寸）。在这里，我们建议证明的实用程序的固定源的医疗成像，在X射线发射特性和可靠性方面，与一个功能齐全的固定源。固定源将应用于小动物的数字断层合成成像，因为这是我们原型研究的断层成像的一个相当简单的实现。虽然针对小动物成像，固定源研究的结果将适用于其他DT系统，如那些正在调查的人类乳房成像。该R21提案的具体目标是：1）构建固定X射线源和源评估测试台，以及2）使用该测试台评估固定X射线源的性能。拟议研究的成功完成将加快这种新的固定X射线源方法的开发，并可能导致X射线源技术的革命性改进，用于断层医学成像系统。公共卫生相关性：我们建议通过开发一种X射线成像系统来显着改进医学成像技术，该系统将允许癌症研究人员拍摄三维X射线运动图像。提高成像速度、降低系统成本以及实现由这种设备赋予的新颖采集几何形状的潜力可以导致开发紧凑的、负担得起的CT和数字断层合成系统，用于医院、诊所、农村地区和实验室，从而使医疗护理和研究领域受益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Since the introduction of computed tomography (CT) in the early 1970s, x-ray based tomographic imaging has become a fundamental tool employed in nearly all areas of medicine, including cancer screening and research. SRI International is developing a new stationary x-ray source with the potential to revolutionize tomographic imaging technology. The possibility for increased imaging speed and the implementation of novel acquisition geometries imparted by such a source could lead to the development of compact, affordable CT and digital tomosynthesis systems for use in hospitals, clinics, rural areas, and laboratories, and thereby benefit both the medical care and research fields. We have investigated the physical principles underlying a new stationary x-ray source approach based on microfabricated cold cathode technology. Our studies have demonstrated the potential of the stationary source to provide the flux and fluence required by many medical imaging applications. These earlier studies focused on investigating the x-ray production characteristics (x-ray flux, fluence, and focal spot size) of the individual x- ray source elements that would be grouped to form the stationary source. Here we propose to demonstrate the utility of the stationary source for medical imaging, in terms of x-ray emission characteristics and reliability, with a fully functional stationary source. The stationary source will be applied to digital tomosynthesis imaging of small animals, as this is a reasonably straightforward implementation of tomographic imaging for our prototyping studies. Although directed toward small animal imaging, the results of the stationary source studies will be applicable to other DT systems, such as those under investigation for human breast imaging. The specific aims of this R21 proposal are to: 1) construct a stationary x-ray source and source evaluation testbed and 2) use this testbed to evaluate performance of the stationary x-ray source. The successful completion of the proposed study will expedite development of this new stationary x-ray source approach and could result in an arguably revolutionary improvement in x-ray source technology for tomographic medical imaging systems. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We propose to significantly improve medical imaging technology by developing an x-ray imaging system that will allow cancer researchers to take three-dimensional x-ray motion pictures. The potential for increased imaging speed, reduced system cost, and the implementation of novel acquisition geometries imparted by such a device could lead to the development of compact, affordable CT and digital tomosynthesis systems for use in hospitals, clinics, rural areas, and laboratories, and thereby benefit both the medical care and research fields.