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The first body scanner in the world produced its first images. called EXPLORER, the medical imaging device scans up to 40 times faster than current PET scans and can produce 3D analysis of the entire body in just 20 to 30 seconds.
EXPLORER combines Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), which can give an image of the whole body at the same time. Improvements over current imaging systems include not only faster scans, but also the ability to scan with significantly lower radiation doses. Indeed, the device is up to 40 times more sensitive than current commercial scanning systems.
One of the main advantages of this technique is the possibility of conducting repeated studies on an individual or greatly reducing the dose in pediatric studies, in which the control of the cumulative dose of radiation is particularly important. The higher sensitivity also allows clinicians to image certain molecular targets that exceed the limits of current scanning systems.
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The scanner was developed by scientists from UC Davis in partnership with Uni Imaging Healthcare (UIH), based in Shanghai, who built the system on the basis of its latest technology platform and will eventually manufacture devices for the market more wide health care. Developers expect technology to have countless applications, from improving diagnostics to tracking disease progression to finding new drug treatments.
"the compromise between image quality, acquisition time and the dose of radiation injected will vary according to the applications", Explains simon cherry, from the department of biomedical engineering at davis university. "but in any case, we can digitize better, faster or with a lower radiation dose, or a combination of these."
all images courtesy of UC Davis
EXPLORER allows clinicians to simultaneously assess what is happening in all organs and tissues of the body, while with current PET systems, only single body fragments can be scanned at a time. it means that it can measure quantitatively the blood flow or the way the body absorbs glucose anywhere in the body. researchers plan to use the scanner to study cancer that has spread beyond a tumor site, inflammation, infection, immunological disorders or metabolic and many other diseases.
"the level of detail was amazing, especially once we had the reconstruction method a little more optimizedSays Ramsey Badawi, chief of UC Davis Health's Department of Nuclear Medicine. "we could see features that you do not see in regular PET scans. and the dynamic sequence showing the radiotracer moving around the body in three dimensions over time was, frankly, disconcerting. There is no other device capable of obtaining such data in humans, so it is really new."
The EXPLORER is naturally advanced because of its very compact interior. the device employs nearly 2,000 modular "block" detectors, providing an axial field of view (FOV) of about 2 meters. The device should weigh more than ten tons and consume about 60 kW of energy. operating at full speed, it could generate 40 TB of data in a single day, using four to six racks of computers to process and store this data. However, this will not prevent EXPLORER from having a global deployment.
"I do not think we'll see many EXPLORER systems around the world soonSaid Cherry. "but it depends on the demonstration of the benefits of the system, both clinically and for research. We will now focus on planning studies that will show how EXPLORER will benefit our patients and contribute to our knowledge of the entire human body, whether it is affected or in good health."
The first images of human scans using the new device will be presented at the next congress of the North American Radiological Society, which begins on November 19th. 24th in Chicago.
Kieron Marchese I designboom
Nov 20, 2018
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