Showing papers on "Imaging technology published in 2011"

Harnessing the Power of Radionuclides for Optical Imaging: Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging

Abstract: Over the past several years, nuclear imaging modalities such as PET and SPECT have received much attention because they have been instrumental not only in preclinical cancer research but also in nuclear medicine. Yet nuclear imaging is limited by high instrumentation cost and subsequently low availability to basic researchers. Cerenkov radiation, a relativistic physical phenomenon that was discovered 70 years ago, has recently become an intriguing subject of study in molecular imaging because of its potential in augmenting nuclear imaging, particularly in preclinical small-animal studies. The intrinsic capability of radionuclides emitting luminescent light from decay is promising because of the possibility of bridging nuclear imaging with optical imaging-a modality that is much less expensive, is easier to use, and has higher throughput than its nuclear counterpart. Thus, with the maturation of this novel imaging technology using Cerenkov radiation, which is termed Cerenkov luminescence imaging, it is foreseeable that advances in both nuclear imaging and preclinical research involving radioisotopes will be significantly accelerated in the near future.

CT, MRI and PET imaging in peritoneal malignancy

Abstract: Imaging plays a vital role in the evaluation of patients with suspected or proven peritoneal malignancy. Nevertheless, despite significant advances in imaging technology and protocols, assessment of peritoneal pathology remains challenging. The combination of complex peritoneal anatomy, an extensive surface area that may host tumour deposits and the considerable overlap of imaging appearances of various peritoneal diseases often makes interpretation difficult. Contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) remains the most versatile tool in the imaging of peritoneal malignancy. However, conventional and emerging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT techniques offer significant advantages over MDCT in detection and surveillance. This article reviews established and new techniques in CT, MRI and PET imaging in both primary and secondary peritoneal malignancies and provides an overview of peritoneal anatomy, function and modes of disease dissemination with illustration of common sites and imaging features of peritoneal malignancy.

Interpretation of SPECT/CT Myocardial Perfusion Images: Common Artifacts and Quality Control Techniques

Abstract: Nuclear medicine has long played an important role in the noninvasive evaluation of known or suspected coronary artery disease. The development of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) led to improved assessments of myocardial perfusion, and the use of electrocardiographic gating made accurate measurements of ventricular wall motion, ejection fractions, and ventricular volumes possible. With the use of hybrid SPECT/computed tomography (CT) scanning systems, the cardiac functional parameters can be measured in a single imaging session. These recent advances in imaging technology have not only enhanced image quality but also improved diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in the detection of clinically relevant coronary artery disease. The CT-based attenuation maps obtained with hybrid SPECT/CT systems also have been useful for improving diagnostic accuracy. However, when attenuation correction and other advanced image data postprocessing techniques are used, unexpected artifacts may arise. The artifacts most commonly encountered are related to the characteristics either of the technology or of the patient. Thus, close attention to the details of acquisition protocols, processing techniques, and image interpretation is needed to ensure high diagnostic quality in myocardial perfusion studies.

Percutaneous, ultrasound-guided introduction of medical devices

Abstract: Described are methods and systems and system components useful for percutaneously delivering or retrieving vascular implant devices, such as filters, utilizing intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) imaging alone or in combination with external (e.g. transabdominal) ultrasound or other imaging technology. Implants deliverable by such systems, such as vena cava or other vascular filters, can have two or more echogenic markers spaced at such a distance that they are separately discernible by IVUS and/or external ultrasound imaging.

The future of hybrid imaging—part 3: PET/MR, small-animal imaging and beyond

Abstract: Since the 1990s, hybrid imaging by means of software and hardware image fusion alike allows the intrinsic combination of functional and anatomical image information. This review summarises in three parts the state of the art of dual-technique imaging with a focus on clinical applications. We will attempt to highlight selected areas of potential improvement of combined imaging technologies and new applications. In this third part, we discuss briefly the origins of combined positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Unlike PET/computed tomography (CT), PET/MRI started out from developments in small-animal imaging technology, and, therefore, we add a section on advances in dual- and multi-modality imaging technology for small animals. Finally, we highlight a number of important aspects beyond technology that should be addressed for a sustained future of hybrid imaging. In short, we predict that, within 10 years, we may see all existing multi-modality imaging systems in clinical routine, including PET/MRI. Despite the current lack of clinical evidence, integrated PET/MRI may become particularly important and clinically useful in improved therapy planning for neurodegenerative diseases and subsequent response assessment, as well as in complementary loco-regional oncology imaging. Although desirable, other combinations of imaging systems, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/MRI may be anticipated, but will first need to go through the process of viable clinical prototyping. In the interim, a combination of PET and ultrasound may become available. As exciting as these new possible triple-technique—imaging systems sound, we need to be aware that they have to be technologically feasible, applicable in clinical routine and cost-effective.

What challenges must be overcome before ultrasound elasticity imaging is ready for the clinic

Abstract: Ultrasound elasticity imaging has been a research interest for the past 20 years with the goal of generating novel images of soft tissues based on their material properties (i.e., stiffness and viscosity). The motivation for such an imaging modality lies in the fact that many soft tissues can share similar ultrasonic echogenicities, but may have very different mechanical properties that can be used to clearly visualize normal anatomy and delineate diseased tissues and masses. Recently, elasticity imaging techniques have moved from the laboratory to the clinical setting, where clinicians are beginning to characterize tissue stiffness as a diagnostic metric and commercial implementations of ultrasonic elasticity imaging are beginning to appear on the market. This article provides a foundation for elasticity imaging, an overview of current research and commercial realizations of elasticity imaging technology and a perspective on the current successes, limitations and potential for improvement of these imaging technologies.

Imaging diagnosis of colorectal liver metastases

Abstract: Rapid advances in imaging technology have improved the detection, characterization and staging of colorectal liver metastases. Multi-modality imaging approach is usually the more useful in diagnosis colorectal liver metastases. It is well established that hepatic resection improves the long-term prognosis of many patients with liver metastases. However, incomplete resection does not prolong survival, so knowledge of the exact extent of intra-hepatic disease is crucially important in determining patient management and outcome. The diagnosis of liver metastases relies first and totally on imaging to decide which patients may be surgical candidates. This review will discuss the imaging options and their appropriate indications. Imaging and evaluating of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) have been performed with contrast-enhanced ultrasound, multi-detector computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with extra-cellular contrast media and liver-specific contrast media MRI, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography. This review will concentrate on the imaging approach of CRLM, and also discuss certain characteristics of some liver lesions. We aim to highlight the advantages of each imaging technique, as well as underscoring potential pitfalls and limitations.

Active 3D scanning based 3D thermography system and medical applications

Abstract: Infrared (IR) thermography determines the surface temperature of an object or human body using IR camera. It is an imaging technology which is contactless and completely non-invasive. These properties make infrared thermography a useful method of analysis that is used in various industrial applications to detect, monitor and predict irregularities in many fields from engineering to medical and biological observations. This paper presents 3D thermography based on the combination of active visual 3D imaging technology and passive thermal imaging technology. We describe development of a 3D thermography system integrating thermal imaging with 3D geometrical data from active 3D scanner. We also outline the potential benefits of this system in medical applications. In particular, we emphasize the benefits of using this system for detection of breast cancer.

Microwave tomography of extremities: 2. Functional fused imaging of flow reduction and simulated compartment syndrome.

Abstract: Medical imaging has recently expanded into the dual- or multi-modality fusion of anatomical and functional imaging modalities. This significantly improves the diagnostic power while simultaneously increasing the cost of already expensive medical devices or investigations and decreasing their mobility. We are introducing a novel imaging concept of four-dimensional (4D) microwave tomographic (MWT) functional imaging: three dimensional (3D) in the spatial domain plus one dimensional (1D) in the time, functional dynamic domain. Instead of a fusion of images obtained by different imaging modalities, 4D MWT fuses absolute anatomical images with dynamic, differential images of the same imaging technology. The approach was successively validated in animal experiments with short-term arterial flow reduction and a simulated compartment syndrome in an initial simplified experimental setting using a dedicated MWT system. The presented fused images are not perfect as MWT is a novel imaging modality at its early stage of the development and ways of reading reconstructed MWT images need to be further studied and understood. However, the reconstructed fused images present clear evidence that microwave tomography is an emerging imaging modality with great potentials for functional imaging.

IVUS and OCT: Either or Survivor …

Abstract: Since its introduction over 20 years ago, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has become the dominant imaging technology, helping us to better understand vessel biology and guiding interventional procedures, and providing information on atherosclerosis progression or regression in clinical trials.

Strategies for Implementing Hardware-Assisted High-Throughput Cellular Image Analysis:

Abstract: Recent advances in imaging technology for biomedicine, including high-speed microscopy, automated microscopy, and imaging flow cytometry are poised to have a large impact on clinical diagnostics, d...

Hyperspectral video endoscope for intra-surgery tissue classification using auto-fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy

Abstract: This paper presents a hyper-spectral video endoscopy system which utilizes a combination of auto-fluorescence imaging and white-light reflectance spectroscopy for intra-surgery tissue classification. The results of the first clinical study consisting of 59 cases of otolaryngoscopic examinations and thorax surgeries are discussed in this paper. The main focus of this application is the detection of tumor tissue, although hyper-spectral video endoscopy is not limited to cancer detection. The results show that hyper-spectral video endoscopy exhibits a large potential to become an important imaging technology for medical imaging devices that provide additional diagnostic information about the tissue under investigation.

Introducing 3-dimensional stereoscopic imaging to the study of musculoskeletal anatomy.

Abstract: The stereoscopic imaging technique is an option for a more realistic understanding of what we normally see in 2 dimensions on paper or on a screen. To produce a 3-dimensional image of an object, it is necessary to register 2 different images of the same object at the same distance and height with the use of cameras that focus on one particular point. A convergence between the left and right images is required for human vision. The distance between the camera and the images necessary to create the stereo pair should be proportional to the normal distance between the pupils. Stereoscopic or polarization techniques are used to create the images, and special glasses are required to view them. In medicine, 3-dimensional images are an extremely effective resource in the study and teaching of anatomy at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels. With advancements in technology and the emergence of new diagnostic imaging techniques and innovative therapeutic modalities, 3-dimensional images can be an excellent educational tool.

Review of Underwater Opto-electrical Imaging Technology and Equipment(I)——Underwater Laser Range-gated Imaging Technology

Abstract: Laser range-gated imaging is one of the major and effective technologies for underwater opto-electrical imagingDomestic and foreign countries have been making great efforts to cultivate this technologySome underwater opto-electrical imaging systems and experimental results,made by foreign countries,have become available since 1990sThis paper will give comprehensive performance analysis and comparison of existing underwater laser range gated imaging equipments,which can be applied to exploration of marine resources and underwater rescue/reconnaissanceThe analysis in this paper is of great significance for the development of underwater laser range-gated imaging technology and equipment

Educational Initiatives for Quality Improvement Projects Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Abstract: Noninvasive imaging has become a cornerstone of the practice of cardiovascular medicine. When properly applied, the information obtained from cardiac imaging studies, integrated with overall clinical assessment, can be used to diagnose disease, determine its functional and physiological impact, assess prognosis, and guide therapeutic decisions. The last 2 decades have seen enormous growth in all medical imaging procedures.1 A major component of this increased utilization was in stress nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT), which has become one of the most commonly used and effective methods to assess patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. The reasons for this growth have been, and will continue to be, debated for some time. On the more “positive” side, this growth may have been stimulated by a substantial body of research demonstrating the utility of MPI in a wide variety of clinical scenarios. Moreover, advancements in imaging technology and improved access to care may have been contributory. On the “negative” side, some argue that the growth in imaging has been fueled by misguided financial incentives and the practice of “defensive” medicine. One fact, however, is indisputable: Imaging accounts for a large amount of overall healthcare expenditures, and despite the potential for imaging to reduce downstream costs, control of this escalating cost has become central to public healthcare policy. Accordingly, constraint of this growth of cardiac imaging has become a major effort of the government, medical insurers, and professional societies. What is the best method for controlling the proliferation of cardiac imaging, and how should these methods be used to effect change in physician behavior? Article see p 499 In this issue of Circulation , Gibbons and colleagues2 report on their experience in the implementation of one such methodology, the appropriate use criteria (AUC) for SPECT MPI, in …

Small Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Basic Principles, Instrumentation and Practical Issue

Abstract: The purpose of this book chapter is to provide a basic introduction to the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its extension to small animal imaging using magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM). The chapter starts with a section describing the most fundamental aspects of MR including the resonance phenomena, relaxation mechanisms, and the basic physical processes leading to MR signal generation. Afterwards the concept of magnetic field gradients leading to the most basic imaging principles of MRI and MRM will be summarized. This introduction will be completed by giving an overview over the MR hardware involved, the basic information content of a MRM experiment and finally challenges and limitations of this imaging technology and some imaging examples will be discussed.

Spliced imaging system based on axis-shifting principle

Abstract: The invention discloses a spliced imaging system based on an axis-shifting principle, comprising at least one imaging lens and at least one imaging device, wherein the imaging lens is arranged on the same plane and has same focal length and view field; the imaging device is arranged on the focal plane of each imaging lens; each imaging lens is set into a mode that the optical axis of the imaging lens is vertical to the focal plane thereof; and each imaging device is set into a mode that the focal plane of the imaging device has preset axis-shifting amount. The system disclosed by the invention overcomes the defects in the traditional multiple-camera imaging technology that later-stage image processing has high complexity under the condition of inclined imaging, and precise simultaneous exposure cannot be realized under the condition of vertical imaging. In addition, the spliced imaging system expands the imaging range under the vertical installation condition of the cameras.

Advances in radiotherapy: from 2D to 4D

Abstract: Imaging techniques are increasingly integrated into modern radiotherapy (RT). Multimodal imaging is used to define the target for RT planning and imaging technology is also being integrated into linear accelerators, with the purpose to ensure delivery of radiation with high geometric accuracy. The integration of imaging in RT calls for a stronger collaboration between diagnostic radiologists and the professions involved in RT.

Issues in Translating Imaging Technology and Presurgical Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Abstract: The technique of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been available in research and clinical settings for more than a decade [1–9]. Hundreds of scientific articles have been generated, showing its potential utility in clinical settings [10,11]. Early in its tenure, the potential for DTI to impact surgical decision making in brain tumor patients was clear [12–19]. To date, presurgical DTI is the most widely used clinical application of the technique. However, its utility is not uniformly accepted. While some practitioners view presurgical DTI as the standard of care, others ponder its utility. In considering the implementation of any new imaging technique, physicians and hospitals must attempt to determine the likelihood of its widespread acceptance. Questions typically addressed in this analysis include (1) is there a desire among our practicing physicians to implement the technology, (2) is there scientific evidence or an intuitive understanding of a superior clinical application, and (3) will an application become the standard of care and in what time frame? At our institutions, presurgical DTI is considered critical and it is our belief that the application will become the standard of practice. At many other institutions, DTI has yet to be translated for clinical purposes.

Musculoskeletal imaging: current and future trends.

Abstract: Advances in imaging technology and the increasing role of interventional procedures in musculoskeletal imaging have continued to stimulate research over recent years. This review summarises some recent articles on musculoskeletal radiology topics and looks forward to potential future developments in this exciting sub-speciality.

Advanced imaging technology in surgical innovation.

Abstract: Advanced imaging technologies including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have immensely expanded possibilities in imaging and surgery. The accurate visualization of bones and soft tissue has transformed the surgical management of numerous diseases, including middle ear disease, orthopedic and reconstructive cases, and cancer. In fact, in surgical subspecialties such as neurosurgery, CT and MRI are the diagnostic modalities of choice for preoperative evaluation of patients. Furthermore, the ongoing development of the newer imaging technologies continues to expand image-guided surgical treatments. The development of new radiological modalities combined with the modern training of surgeons will provide an exciting landscape for future practicing physicians.

Image Enhancement Technique Applied to Low-field MR Brain Images

Abstract: processing techniques are used to extract meaningful information from medical images. A major concern in de- noising low-field MR brain images is the poor quality images secondary to a worsening signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared with the high-field MRI scanners. Low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is vital in sensitive surgeries to allow real-time imaging in the operation theatre. Since low-field MRI uses low strength electromagnetic fields, noisy low resolution images are produced. In contrast, high- field MRI machines (approximately 7T) are able to produce clear detailed images with almost no noise at all. Considering the above, it is required to enhance the low-field images, so that the same conventional and high-field MRI processing techniques and applications could be applied to pre-processed low-field MRI images. In this paper, pre-processing steps are applied to low-field MR brain images for improving quality of the image.