Développement et conception d'un système de tomographie par émission de positrons à micro-dose ambulatoire (AM-PET) de prochaine génération

Aperçu: G.M.

Plusieurs applications existent pour une image de cerveau de tomographie par émission de positons (PET) entièrement conçue comme une unité portable qui peut être portée sur la tête d'un patient. Grâce à l'amélioration de la technologie des détecteurs, un appareil léger et performant permettrait l'imagerie du cerveau PET dans différents environnements et pendant les tâches comportementales. Un tel système portatif qui permet aux sujets de se déplacer et de marcher - le PET ambulatoire Microdose (AM-PET) - est en cours de développement. 

Sensors (Basel). 2017 May 19;17(5). pii: E1164. doi: 10.3390/s17051164.

Development and Design of Next-Generation Head-Mounted Ambulatory Microdose Positron-Emission Tomography (AM-PET) System

Melroy S¹, Bauer C², McHugh M³, Carden G⁴, Stolin A⁵, Majewski S⁶, Brefczynski-Lewis J⁷, Wuest T⁸.

Author information

1

Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. smelroy@mix.wvu.edu

2

Montgomery-Downs Lab, Blanchette Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. cbauer5@mix.wvu.edu.

3

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. mmchugh4@mix.wvu.edu.

4

Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. gtcarden@mix.wvu.edu.

5

Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. astolin@hsc.wvu.edu.

6

Department of Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. sm4aa@virginia.edu.

7

Physiology & Pharmacology & Blanchette Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. jblewis@hsc.wvu.edu.

8

Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. thwuest@mail.wvu.edu.

Abstract

Several applications exist for a whole brain positron-emission tomography (PET) brain imager designed as a portable unit that can be worn on a patient's head. Enabled by improvements in detector technology, a lightweight, high performance device would allow PET brain imaging in different environments and during behavioral tasks. Such a wearable system that allows the subjects to move their heads and walk-the Ambulatory Microdose PET (AM-PET)-is currently under development. This imager will be helpful for testing subjects performing selected activities such as gestures, virtual reality activities and walking. The need for this type of lightweight mobile device has led to the construction of a proof of concept portable head-worn unit that uses twelve silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) PET module sensors built into a small ring which fits around the head. This paper is focused on the engineering design of mechanical support aspects of the AM-PET project, both of the current device as well as of the coming next-generation devices. The goal of this work is to optimize design of the scanner and its mechanics to improve comfort for the subject by reducing the effect of weight, and to enable diversification of its applications amongst different research activities.

PMID: 28534848

DOI: 10.3390/s17051164