Inveon: A Triple Modality Biomedical Imaging System

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请要求提供资金，以支持购买最先进的PET-SPECT-CT成像系统。这种三重模态成像仪将积极支持NIH资助的研究，解决实验药理学、肿瘤生物学、分子成像和认知神经科学领域的重要问题。马萨诸塞州总医院在开发和进行成像研究方面有着悠久的历史，涉及不同的同位素技术、功能性MRI和光学成像。最近，在小动物模型中对高分辨率成像的需求已经升级，特别是对组合成像模式的需求。使用PET和SPECT技术的基于同位素的成像能够对放射性标记的配体的分布进行功能成像，以测量生理参数，例如血流、代谢、受体和/或酶功能;然而，这些技术不一定描绘组织或器官的解剖边界，这严重限制了数据的解释。解剖标志是极其重要的，尤其是在小鼠的全身成像中。像CT这样的解剖成像模态可以提供这些标志，并且另外可以提供用于PET和SPECT数据的衰减校正的精确图。PET和SPECT的组合使用可以是非常有利的，例如，用于开发用于癌症诊断和/或治疗的探针。通过同时使用PET和SPECT成像，一个探针可以用两种同位素进行放射性标记：一种用于PET，另一种用于SPECT。用于SPECT成像的同位素通常具有比PET同位素更长的半衰期，使得单独使用PET成像不可能进行长期随访研究。PET和SPECT成像的组合使用还使得能够在同一成像会话中对代谢（经由PET）和血流（经由SPECT）进行成像。目前，我们还没有仪器可以让我们同时获得这些信息。我们现有的Concord微型PET系统P4是一个灵长类动物大小的系统;其2 mm的分辨率不足以支持小鼠大脑的成像研究。我们已经广泛使用这种PET系统来研究灵长类动物的大脑。我们也将其用于小鼠模型中异种移植肿瘤的成像研究，但这些研究因无法精确定位肿瘤边界而受阻。一个用于同时采集PET数据与SPECT和CT数据的组合系统将使我们能够实现此类研究的潜力。鉴于特殊的生物医学成像研究社区在MGH，广泛的多模态成像资源的Martinos中心，以及现有的技术专长和基础设施到位，拟议的三模态PET-CT-SPECT成像仪将立即提高效率，可访问性和创新的许多现有的研究计划，并有助于MGH的战略，为综合生物医学成像研究环境。由西门子制造的拟议系统是目前唯一可用的三模态系统。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application requests funding to support the purchase of a state-of-the-art PET-SPECT-CT imaging system. This triple modality imager will actively support NIH-funded research addressing questions of fundamental importance in fields of experimental pharmacology, tumor biology, molecular imaging, and cognitive neuroscience. Massachusetts General Hospital has long a history of developing and conducting imaging research involving different isotope-based techniques, functional MRI, and optical imaging. Recently, the need for high-resolution imaging in small animal models has escalated, especially, the need for combined imaging modalities. Isotope-based imaging with PET and SPECT techniques enables functional imaging of the distribution of radio labeled ligands to measure physiological parameters such as blood flow, metabolism, receptor and/or enzyme function; however, these techniques do not necessarily delineate anatomical borders of tissues or organs, which severely limits interpretation of the data. Anatomical landmarks are extremely important, especially in whole-body imaging of the mouse. Anatomical imaging modalities like CT can provide these landmarks and, in addition, can provide accurate maps for attenuation correction of PET and SPECT data. The combined use of PET and SPECT can be extremely advantageous, for instance, for developing probes for cancer diagnosis and/or therapy. By using PET and SPECT imaging together, one probe can be radio labeled with two isotopes: one for PET and another for SPECT. The isotopes used for SPECT imaging generally have longer half-lives than PET isotopes, enabling long-term follow up studies not possible with PET imaging alone. The combined use of PET and SPECT imaging also enables imaging of metabolism (via PET) and blood flow (via SPECT) in the same imaging session. Currently we do not have instrumentation to allow us to acquire this information simultaneously. Our existing Concord micro PET system, P4, is a primate-size system; its resolution of 2 mm is not high enough to support imaging studies in mouse brain. We have used this PET system extensively for studies in the primate brain. We have also used it for imaging studies of xeno transplanted tumors in mouse models, but these studies are hindered by the inability to precisely localize tumor boundaries. A combined system for simultaneous acquisition of PET data with SPECT and CT data would allow us to realize the potential of such studies. Given the exceptional biomedical imaging research community at the MGH, the broad multimodality imaging resources of the Martinos Center, and the existing technical expertise and infrastructure in place, the proposed triple modality PET-CT-SPECT imager would immediately increase the efficiency, accessibility, and innovation of many existing research programs, and contribute to the MGH's strategy for an integrated biomedical imaging research environment. The proposed system manufactured by Siemens is the only triple modality system presently available.