High performance SPECT system for simultaneous SPECT-MR imaging of small animals

Benjamin M.W. Tsui, Jingyan Xu, Andrew Rittenbach, Si Chen, Abdel Monem El-Sharkaway, William A. Edelstein, Xiaoming Guo, Ang Liu, James W. Hugg

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our goal is to develop a high performance SPECT system for simultaneous SPECT-MR imaging of small animals (SA). The SPECT system has inner diameter (ID) of 15.4 cm and outer diameter of 19.8 cm. It comprises five seamless cylindrical detectors, each with 19 CZT modules (2.54x2.54 cm2, 16x16 pixels). The SPECT system can be operated either stand-alone or as an insert into an MRI system with a minimum 20 cm bore. Cylindrical multipinhole (MPH) collimator sleeves (CSs), made with tungsten powder and solid tungsten pinhole apertures, were designed to provide maximum geometric efficiency under the system's geometric constraints. Different MPH collimators were designed for mouse or rat imaging, and for static high-resolution or dynamic imaging without CS rotation. Sparse-view image reconstruction methods reduce CS rotation. Monte Carlo simulations confirm the SPECT imaging characteristics of 2 MPH CSs that have 18 and 36 pinholes with 1 mm and 1.5 mm system resolution, respectively. Sparse-view 3D MPH image reconstruction with system response modeling indicates that 36 pinholes are sufficient to provide artifact-free images at 1.5 mm resolution without CS rotation. The SPECT system with the 2 MPH CSs, the RF coil, and all mechanical and electronics components have been constructed. Initial experimental phantom and small animal studies demonstrated the high performance and imaging characteristics of the SPECT system. In conclusion, a high performance small animal (SA) SPECT system has been designed and constructed for simultaneous SA SPECT-MRI. Initial subsystem testing has demonstrated excellent SPECT and MRI imaging performance that matches design predictions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2011
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages3178-3182
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9781467301183
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Event2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2011 - Valencia, Spain
Duration: Oct 23 2011Oct 29 2011

Publication series

NameIEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record
ISSN (Print)1095-7863

Other

Other2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2011
Country/TerritorySpain
CityValencia
Period10/23/1110/29/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'High performance SPECT system for simultaneous SPECT-MR imaging of small animals'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this