Research and Development

Dual Layer detector


Rendering of a mobile c-arm with the dual-layer detector, consisting of a γ camera, cone beam collimator and x-ray flat panel (left); and schematic overview of the principle of simultaneous detection of nuclear and radiographic images (right).

The dual-layer detector consists of a γ camera with cone beam collimator placed behind a dynamic x-ray flat panel. The cone beam collimator is focused on the focal spot of the x-ray tube, resulting in intrinsically registered x-ray and nuclear images. The x-ray flat panel absorbs the majority of x-rays (yellow, 30–120 keV) but is more transparent to higher energy (red, 140 keV) γ rays, allowing simultaneous detection.

Gantry

IXSI mobile hybrid SPECT/CT system

2D and 3D imaging

Phantom experiment of a syringe filled with a micture of Iodine contrast agent and 99mTc radio-isotope, showcasing the capability of the detector to simultaneously detect x-ray (DSA right) and nuclear images (center), together forming a unique dynamic hybrid image (right).
3D SPECT/CBCT images of the cylindrical NEMA phantom and anthropomorphic thorax phantom. For comparison images from a diagnostic SPECT/CT are also given. Although IXSI images are noisier (1 instead 2 heads), have a smaller CT field-of-view and a somewhat lower SPECT resolution, IXSI images are expected to offer essential information during interventions

Funding

Fundamental work for the IXSI was funded by the Dutch Funding Agency Applied and Engineer Sciences (NWO TTW) under project number 12977 (VIDI research program)

The dual layer detector as well as the mobile gantry was created with the help of Philips Healthcare (Image Guided Therapies Group, Best, The Netherlands).