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X-ray and CT

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Staff photo Martin Tornai
Program Director
Division of Applied Science & Technology (Biomedical Imaging) Program Area: Nuclear Medicine
This program supports the research and development of technologies and techniques that create multi-dimensional/spectral images of internal structures, contrast agents, or molecular probes using x-rays transmitted through the body (CT, mammography) or x-ray stimulation of secondary emissions (x-ray fluorescence tomography).

Emphasis

The emphasis is on: simulation, design and development of new x-ray sources and detector systems for imaging; new readout methods that enhance the signal quality for x-ray image generation; designs of novel imaging geometries for dedicated, general or multi-purpose imaging; algorithms that compensate for the physical properties of the detection system to improve the clinical reliability of the image (reconstruction algorithms); and approaches to radiation dose reduction, especially in CT. Of interest are diagnostic image enhancements via energy sensitive photon counting, dual/multi energy imaging and quantification, and new applications of cone-beam tomography.

Relevance

The emphasized topics are meant to lead toward: improved clinical CT and planar x-ray (e.g. mammography) systems or new camera geometries; new signal-processing and image-generation algorithms; corrections for image artifacts for enhanced reliability of clinical images; studies of x-ray physics to estimate absorbed energy of diagnostic scans; and methods of visualizing or measuring therapy doses. Investigating the associated dosimetry estimations helps to decrease the risk of diagnostic and therapy techniques.

Examples of emphasis

  • improvement in compact x-ray source technologies
  • development & construction of flat panel detector arrays
  • evaluation of new semiconductor, scintillation and other novel radiation detectors
  • reconstruction algorithms for CT and cone-beam geometry
  • advances of photon counting or dual/multi-energy in CT
  • techniques for improved image spatial resolution and sensitivity
  • investigating x-ray luminescence tomography
  • design and manufacture of x-ray gratings
  • investigating interferometry and (tissue-induced) phase contrast techniques as well as development of usable phase contrast systems
  • combining modalities for clinically relevant hybrid cameras (e.g. coupling x-ray CT to SPECT and PET, ultrasound, optical, MRI or other modalities)
  • software algorithms and imaging protocols to estimate patient dosimetry
  • improvements in digital radiography and digital fluoroscopy
  • novel interaction processing such as those using scattered x-rays
  • developing ion beams for novel clinical applications
  • new diagnostics applied to image-guided therapy and theranostics

Additional support

  • improvements in digital radiography and digital fluoroscopy
  • novel interaction processing such as those using scattered x-rays
  • developing ion beams for novel clinical applications
  • new diagnostics applied to image-guided therapy and theranostics

Notes

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