Deep residual-convolutional neural networks for event positioning in a monolithic annular PET scanner.

PET scanners based on monolithic pieces of scintillator can potentially produce superior performance characteristics (high spatial resolution and detection sensitivity, for example) compared to conventional PET scanners. Consequently, we initiated development of a preclinical PET system based on a single 7.2 cm long annulus of LYSO, called AnnPET.

Small animal, positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging system based on a clinical magnetic resonance imaging scanner: evaluation of basic imaging performance.

Development of advanced preclinical imaging techniques has had an important impact on the field of biomedical research, with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging the most mature of these efforts. Developers of preclinical PET scanners have joined the recent multimodality imaging trend by combining PET imaging with other modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our group has developed a combined PET-MRI insert for the imaging of animals up to the size of rats in a clinical 3T MRI scanner.

A combined positron emission tomography (PET)-electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) system: initial evaluation of a prototype scanner.

The advent of hybrid scanners, combining complementary modalities, has revolutionized the application of advanced imaging technology to clinical practice and biomedical research. In this project, we investigated the melding of two complementary, functional imaging methods: positron emission tomography (PET) and electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI). PET radiotracers can provide important information about cellular parameters, such as glucose metabolism.

A dedicated breast-PET/CT scanner: Evaluation of basic performance characteristics.

Purpose: Application of advanced imaging techniques, such as PET and x ray CT, can potentially improve detection of breast cancer. Unfortunately, both modalities have challenges in the detection of some lesions. The combination of the two techniques, however, could potentially lead to an overall improvement in diagnostic breast imaging.

Preclinical positron emission tomography scanner based on a monolithic annulus of scintillator: initial design study.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scanners designed for imaging of small animals have transformed translational research by reducing the necessity to invasively monitor physiology and disease progression. Virtually all of these scanners are based on the use of pixelated detector modules arranged in rings. This design, while generally successful, has some limitations.

Designing a compact high performance brain PET scanner-simulation study.

The desire to understand normal and disordered human brain function of upright, moving persons in natural environments motivates the development of the ambulatory micro-dose brain PET imager (AMPET). An ideal system would be light weight but with high sensitivity and spatial resolution, although these requirements are often in conflict with each other. One potential approach to meet the design goals is a compact brain-only imaging device with a head-sized aperture.

TandemPET- A High Resolution, Small Animal, Virtual Pinhole-Based PET Scanner: Initial Design Study.

Mice are the perhaps the most common species of rodents used in biomedical research, but many of the current generation of small animal PET scanners are non-optimal for imaging these small rodents due to their relatively low resolution. Consequently, a number of researchers have investigated the development of high-resolution scanners to address this need. In this investigation, the design of a novel, high-resolution system based on the dual-detector, virtual-pinhole PET concept was explored via Monte Carlo simulations.

Arrays of Segmented, Tapered Light Guides for Use with Large, Planar Scintillation Detectors.

Metabolic imaging techniques can potentially improve detection and diagnosis of cancer in women with radiodense and/or fibrocystic breasts. Our group has previously developed a high-resolution positron emission tomography imaging and biopsy device (PEM-PET) to detect and guide the biopsy of suspicious breast lesions. Initial testing revealed that the imaging field-of-view (FOV) of the scanner was smaller than the physical size of the detector's active area, which could hinder sampling of breast areas close to the chest wall.

Construction and Evaluation of a Prototype High Resolution, Silicon Photomultiplier-Based, Tandem Positron Emission Tomography System.

While the performance of most current commercially available PET scanners is sufficient for many standard clinical applications, some specific tasks likely require specialized imaging systems. The goal of this project is to explore the capabilities and limitations of a small, high-resolution prototype system for obtaining PET images. The scanner consists of a tandem of detectors.

Molecular imaging of conscious, unrestrained mice with AwakeSPECT.

Unlabelled: We have developed a SPECT imaging system, AwakeSPECT, to enable molecular brain imaging of untrained mice that are conscious, unanesthetized, and unrestrained. We accomplished this with head tracking and motion correction techniques.

Methods: The capability of the system for motion-corrected imaging was demonstrated with a (99m)Tc-pertechnetate phantom, (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate bone imaging, and measurement of the binding potential of the dopamine transporter radioligand (123)I-ioflupane in mouse brain in the awake and anesthetized (isoflurane) states.

Characterization of the relation between CT technical parameters and accuracy of quantification of lung attenuation on quantitative chest CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the compromise between CT technical parameters and the accuracy of CT quantification of lung attenuation.

Materials And Methods: Materials that simulate water (0 H), healthy lung (-650 H), borderline emphysematous lung (-820 H), and severely emphysematous lung (-1,000 H) were placed at both the base and the apex of the lung of an anthropomorphic phantom and outside the phantom. Transaxial CT images through the samples were obtained while the effective tube current was varied from 440 to 10 mAs, kilovoltage from 140 to 80 kVp, and slice thickness from 0.

A novel technique for localization and excisional biopsy of small or ill-defined pulmonary lesions.

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate radiotracer-guided localization of small or ill-defined pulmonary nodules for thoracoscopic excisional biopsy.

Methods: This study consisted of two parts: a laboratory study in rats to determine the most suitable radiotracer, and a pilot study in humans to determine the feasibility of radiotracer lung nodule localization. The right lung of 12 rats was injected with a technetium 99m (Tc 99m) based radiotracer solution: 4 each with macroaggregated albumin (MAA), unfiltered sulfur colloid (SC), and pertechnetate (TcO(4)).