Operator Intracranial Dose Protection During Fluoroscopic-Guided Interventions.

Purpose: We utilized an anthropomorphic model made with a human skull to determine how different personal protective equipment influence operator intracranial radiation absorbed dose.

Materials And Methods: A custom anthropomorphic phantom made with a human skull coated with polyurethane rubber, mimicking superficial tissues, and was mounted onto a plastic thorax. To simulate scatter, an acrylic plastic scatter phantom was placed onto the fluoroscopic table with a 1.

3D printed CT-based abdominal structure mannequin for enabling research.

An anthropomorphic phantom is a radiologically accurate, tissue realistic model of the human body that can be used for research into innovative imaging and interventional techniques, education simulation and calibration of medical imaging equipment. Currently available CT phantoms are appropriate tools for calibration of medical imaging equipment but have major disadvantages for research and educational simulation. They are expensive, lacking the realistic appearance and characteristics of anatomical organs when visualized during X-ray based image scanning.

Restricting motion effects in CT coronary angiography.

Objective: Evaluation of coronary CT image blur using multi segment reconstruction algorithm.

Methods: Cardiac motion was simulated in a Catphan. CT coronary angiography was performed using 320 × 0.

Optimization of Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography for Improved Plaque Detection.

Objective: The study aims to optimize visualization of the coronary wall during computed tomography coronary angiography.

Methods: A coronary plaque phantom was scanned on a wide-volume computed tomography scanner. Spatial resolution, contrast resolution, and vessel wall thickness were measured at different x-ray tube currents and voltages.

The influence of chest wall tissue composition in determining image noise during cardiac CT.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to determine the influence of chest wall composition on image quality in cardiac CT.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 100 consecutive patients referred for CT coronary artery calcium assessment was performed. Image noise (Hounsfield units) was measured by prescribing a region of interest in the descending thoracic aorta.

Direct quantification of breast dose during coronary CT angiography and evaluation of dose reduction strategies.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantify the absorbed radiation dose received by the adult female breast during coronary CT angiography (CTA) and to evaluate the effectiveness of various dose reduction strategies.

Materials And Methods: An adult female thoracic anthropomorphic phantom was scanned using eight different clinical coronary CTA protocols that varied in detector configuration (320 × 0.5 mm or 64 × 0.

Quantification of arterial plaque and lumen density with MDCT.

Purpose: This study aimed to derive a mathematical correction function in order to normalize the CT number measurements for small volume arterial plaque and small vessel mimicking objects, imaged with multidetector CT (MDCT).

Methods: A commercially available calcium plaque phantom (QRM GmbH, Moehrendorf, Germany) and a custom built cardiovascular phantom were scanned with 320 and 64 MDCT scanners. The calcium hydroxyapatite plaque phantom contained objects 0.

Image quality assurance of soft copy display systems.

Image quality assurance has traditionally been a high priority in medical imaging departments. Recently, it has often been neglected with the transition from hard copy (film) to soft copy (computer) display systems, which could potentially result in difficulty in reading images or even misdiagnosis. This transition therefore requires careful management such that comparable image quality is achieved at a minimum.