Photon Counting Detectors for Clinical k-edge CT

描述（由申请人提供）：这项名为“用于临床k-edge CT的光子计数探测器”的快速通道资助将使DxRay能够将我们基于CdTe的光子计数X射线计算机断层扫描（CT）探测器的客户驱动改进版本推向市场，该探测器具有能量鉴别功能。这些探测器能够显著改善CT成像，例如降低患者剂量，同时保持出色的图像质量、增强的组织对比度和材料分解能力（组织类型识别）。总体目标是为CT市场带来用于人类X射线CT成像的具有能量鉴别的光子计数能量色散X射线探测器。到目前为止，我们已经展示了第一代快速光子计数X射线成像阵列，其具有比所有其他阵列更高的最大输出计数率（超过一个数量级），并且该阵列已经用于生成迄今为止的第一批患者图像。第一代系统能够以超过5 W每秒每平方毫米（cps/mm 2）106个计数进行计数，并在高达300 mA的管电流下进行临床扫描，证明了颈部和腹部研究中的剂量减少和图像质量改善。 我们的X射线成像阵列是完全垂直集成的，与临床上使用的所有现有机架和X射线管兼容。 根据客户的反馈，我们已经确定，我们的探测器还需要两项性能增强，以实现我们技术的全面商业化。在第一年，我们将生产第二代光子计数CT探测器的全功能原型，并展示其具有客户要求的所有功能的性能。在项目的第二年和第三年，我们将根据客户的反馈，生产最终产品的第一批生产运行，并提供足够数量的探测器，为客户提供样本，用于在其临床系统中进行测试。这将允许在现有机架中进行患者研究。 我们期待这一产品在商业上取得巨大成功。这是由于我们的技术对现有探测器的显著改进和优势，以及CT的广泛和日益增加的使用。随着CT检查次数的增加，CT扫描中的X射线暴露一直是放射科医生和物理学家的主要关注点。因此，降低CT检查中患者剂量的方法将对公众健康产生重大影响。我们的产品满足了降低CT剂量的需求。与此同时，需要改进组织分化和材料特异性鉴定，以便更好地诊断。我们的产品通过利用高通量下单独计数的X射线中包含的能量信息来提高图像质量，从而满足了这些需求，这些信息目前无法通过目前在多层CT系统中使用的非光子计数X射线成像阵列获得。 公共卫生相关性：本提案的总体目标是开发一种具有能量分箱和读出功能的光子计数CT探测器，该探测器能够产生能量分辨的CT扫描，该扫描可以提供更少的辐射剂量并区分组织类型。具有能量分箱的光子计数探测器可以通过对探测到的每个X射线进行计数和分箱来提高CT性能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This fast track grant titled, "Photon Counting Detectors for Clinical k-edge CT" will enable DxRay to bring to market a customer-driven improved version of our CdTe-based photon- counting x-ray computed tomography (CT) detector with energy discrimination. These detectors have enabled significant improvements in CT imaging such as reduced patient dose while maintaining excellent image quality, enhanced tissue contrast, and material decomposition capabilities (tissue type identification). The overall goal is to bring to the CT marketplace a photon-counting energy-dispersive x-ray detector with energy discrimination for use in human x-ray CT imaging. So far we have demonstrated a first generation fast photon- counting x-ray imaging array which has a higher maximum output count rate (by more than an order of magnitude) than all others, and the arrays have been used to generate the first patient images to date. This first-generation system is capable of counting at over 5 W 106 counts per second per mm2 (cps/mm2) and has performed clinical scans at up to 300 mA of tube current, demonstrating both reduced dose and improved image quality in neck and abdomen studies. Our x-ray imaging arrays are completely vertically integrated and are compatible with all the existing gantries and x-ray tubes being used clinically. With feedback from our customers we have determined that there are two more performance enhancements required from our detector for the full commercialization of our technology. In the first year we will produce a fully functioning prototype of the second- generation photon-counting CT detector and demonstrate its performance with all the features our customers require. In the second and third year of the project we will, with feedback from our customers, produce the first production runs of the final product, with sufficient numbers of detectors to provide samples to our customers for testing in their clinical systems. This will allow for patient studies to be performed in existing gantries. We expect large commercial success with this product. This is due to the significant improvements to and advantages over existing detectors that our technology provides together with the widespread and increasing use of CT. The x-ray exposure in CT scanning has been of major concern for radiologists and physicists as the number of CT examinations has increased. Therefore, a method which reduces the patient dose in CT examinations will have a significant impact on public health. Our product addresses the need to reduce dose in CT. At the same time, improved tissue differentiation and material-specific identification is needed for better diagnosis. Our product addresses these needs by improving image quality by making use of the energy information contained in the individually counted x-rays at high flux, information that is currently not obtainable with the non photon-counting x-ray imaging arrays currently in use in multi-slice CT systems. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The overall goal of this proposal is to develop a photon counting CT detector with energy binning and read-out that is capable of producing energy resolved CT scan which can deliver less radiation dose and differentiate between tissue types. Photon counting detectors with energy binning can improve CT performance by counting and binning each x-ray detected.