Purpose To demonstrate the feasibility of spectral imaging using photon-counting detector (PCD) x-ray computed tomography (CT) for simultaneous material decomposition of 3 contrast agents in vivo in a large animal model. Methods This Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee-approved study used a canine model. Bismuth subsalicylate was administered orally 24–72 hours before imaging. PCD CT was performed during intravenous administration of 40–60 ml gadoterate meglumine; 3.5 minutes later, iopamidol 370 was injected intravenously. Renal PCD CT images were acquired every 2 seconds for 5–6 minutes to capture the wash-in and wash-out kinetics of the contrast agents. Least mean squares linear material decomposition was used to calculate the concentrations of contrast agents in the aorta, renal cortex, renal medulla and renal pelvis. Results Using reference vials with known concentrations of materials, we computed molar concentrations of the various contrast agents during each phase of CT scanning. Material concentration maps allowed simultaneous quantification of both arterial and delayed renal enhancement in a single CT acquisition. The accuracy of the material decomposition algorithm in a test phantom was −0.4±2.2 mM, 0.3±2.2 mM for iodine and gadolinium solutions, respectively. Peak contrast concentration of gadolinium and iodine in the aorta, renal cortex, and renal medulla were observed 16, 24, and 60 seconds after the start each injection, respectively. Conclusion Photon-counting spectral CT allowed simultaneous material decomposition of multiple contrast agents in vivo. Besides defining contrast agent concentrations, tissue enhancement at multiple phases was observed in a single CT acquisition, potentially obviating the need for multi-phase CT scans and thus reducing radiation dose.
To determine the feasibility of dual-contrast agent imaging of the heart using photon-counting detector (PCD) computed tomography (CT) to simultaneously assess both first-pass and late enhancement of the myocardium. An occlusion-reperfusion canine model of myocardial infarction was used. Gadolinium-based contrast was injected 10 min prior to PCD CT. Iodinated contrast was infused immediately prior to PCD CT, thus capturing late gadolinium enhancement as well as first-pass iodine enhancement. Gadolinium and iodine maps were calculated using a linear material decomposition technique and compared to single-energy (conventional) images. PCD images were compared to in vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology. For infarct versus remote myocardium, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was maximal on late enhancement gadolinium maps (CNR 9.0 ± 0.8, 6.6 ± 0.7, and 0.4 ± 0.4, p < 0.001 for gadolinium maps, single-energy images, and iodine maps, respectively). For infarct versus blood pool, CNR was maximum for iodine maps (CNR 11.8 ± 1.3, 3.8 ± 1.0, and 1.3 ± 0.4, p < 0.001 for iodine maps, gadolinium maps, and single-energy images, respectively). Combined first-pass iodine and late gadolinium maps allowed quantitative separation of blood pool, scar, and remote myocardium. MRI and histology analysis confirmed accurate PCD CT delineation of scar. Simultaneous multi-contrast agent cardiac imaging is feasible with photon-counting detector CT. These initial proof-of-concept results may provide incentives to develop new k-edge contrast agents, to investigate possible interactions between multiple simultaneously administered contrast agents, and to ultimately bring them to clinical practice.
A comparison of the two most prominent electron sources of high average current high brightness electron beams, dc and superconducting rf photoemission guns, is carried out using a large-scale multivariate genetic optimizer interfaced with space charge simulation codes. The gun geometry for each case is varied concurrently with laser pulse shape and parameters of the downstream beam line elements of the photoinjector to obtain minimum emittance as a function of bunch charge. Realistic constraints are imposed on maximum field values for the two gun types. The superconducting rf and dc gun emittances and beam envelopes are compared for various values of photocathode thermal emittance. The performance of the two systems is found to be largely comparable for up to 154 pC per bunch at 1.3 GHz or 200 mA provided low intrinsic emittance photocathodes can be employed.
Coherent scatter X-ray imaging is a technique that provides spatially-resolved information about the molecular structure of the material under investigation, yielding material-specific contrast that can aid medical diagnosis and inform treatment. In this study, we demonstrate a coherent-scatter imaging approach based on the use of coded apertures (known as coded aperture coherent scatter spectral imaging 1, 2 ) that enables fast, dose-efficient, high-resolution scatter imaging of biologically-relevant materials. Specifically, we discuss how to optimize a coded aperture coherent scatter imaging system for a particular set of objects and materials, describe and characterize our experimental system, and use the system to demonstrate automated material detection in biological tissue.
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