Development of a stationary chest tomosynthesis system using carbon nanotube x-ray source array

Jing Shan: Development of a stationary chest tomosynthesis system using carbon nanotube x-ray source array (Under the direction of Otto Zhou) X-ray imaging system has shown its usefulness for providing quick and easy access of imaging in both clinic settings and emergency situations. It greatly improves the workflow in hospitals. However, the conventional radiography systems, lacks 3D information in the images. The tissue overlapping issue in the 2D projection image result in low sensitivity and specificity. Both computed tomography and digital tomosynthesis, the two conventional 3D imaging modalities, requires a complex gantry to mechanically translate the x-ray source to various positions. Over the past decade, our research group has developed a carbon nanotube (CNT) based x-ray source technology. The CNT x-ray sources allows compacting multiple x-ray sources into a single x-ray tube. Each individual x-ray source in the source array can be electronically switched. This technology allows development of stationary tomographic imaging modalities without any complex mechanical gantries. The goal of this work is to develop a stationary digital chest tomosynthesis (s-DCT) system, and implement it for a clinical trial. The feasibility of s-DCT was investigated. It is found that the CNT source array can provide sufficient x-ray output for chest imaging. Phantom images have shown comparable image qualities as conventional DCT. The s-DBT system was then used to study the effects of source array configurations and tomosynthesis image quality, and the feasibility of a physiological gated s-DCT. Using physical measures for spatial resolution, the 2D source configuration was shown to have improved depth resolution and comparable in-plane resolution. The prospective gated tomosynthesis images have shown substantially reduction of image blur associated with lung motions. The system was also used to investigate the

[1]  Nico Lanconelli,et al.  A new clinical unit for digital radiography based on a thick amorphous selenium plate: physical and psychophysical characterization. , 2011, Medical physics.

[2]  A. Flinck,et al.  Comparison of chest tomosynthesis and chest radiography for detection of pulmonary nodules: human observer study of clinical cases. , 2008, Radiology.

[3]  R. Gomer,et al.  Field Emission and Field Ionization , 1961 .

[4]  Guohua Cao,et al.  Prospective respiratory gated carbon nanotube micro computed tomography. , 2011, Academic radiology.

[5]  H. Machida.  Optimizing Parameters for Flat-Panel Detector , 2010 .

[6]  Tuyen Phan,et al.  Design and characterization of a spatially distributed multibeam field emission x-ray source for stationary digital breast tomosynthesis. , 2009, Medical physics.

[7]  D. G. Grant.  Tomosynthesis: a three-dimensional radiographic imaging technique. , 1972, IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering.

[8]  Lubomir M. Hadjiiski,et al.  A comparative study of limited-angle cone-beam reconstruction methods for breast tomosynthesis. , 2006, Medical physics.

[9]  Emilio Quaia,et al.  Analysis of the impact of digital tomosynthesis on the radiological investigation of patients with suspected pulmonary lesions on chest radiography , 2012, European Radiology.

[10]  Yuan Cheng,et al.  Rectangular Fixed-Gantry CT Prototype: Combining CNT X-Ray Sources and Accelerated Compressed Sensing-Based Reconstruction , 2014, IEEE Access.

[11]  Guohua Cao,et al.  Carbon Nanotube based X-ray Sources: Applications in Pre-Clinical and Medical Imaging. , 2011, Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment.

[12]  Guohua Cao,et al.  Prospective-gated cardiac micro-CT imaging of free-breathing mice using carbon nanotube field emission x-ray. , 2010, Medical physics.

[13]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Evaluation of imaging geometry for stationary chest tomosynthesis , 2014, Medical Imaging.

[14]  Yuan Cheng,et al.  Rectangular computed tomography using a stationary array of CNT emitters: initial experimental results , 2013, Medical Imaging.

[15]  Renuka Uppaluri,et al.  Effect of acquisition parameters on image quality in digital tomosynthesis , 2007, SPIE Medical Imaging.

[16]  Tomokazu Numano,et al.  Radiation dose of digital tomosynthesis for sinonasal examination: comparison with multi-detector CT. , 2012, European journal of radiology.

[17]  I. Björkman-Burtscher,et al.  Radiography, tomosynthesis, CT and MRI in the evaluation of pulmonary cystic fibrosis: an untangling review of the multitude of scoring systems , 2013, Insights into Imaging.

[18]  M J Paulus,et al.  High resolution X-ray computed tomography: an emerging tool for small animal cancer research. , 2000, Neoplasia.

[19]  Kunio Doi,et al.  A simple method for determining the modulation transfer function in digital radiography , 1992, IEEE Trans. Medical Imaging.

[20]  Guohua Cao,et al.  Design and characterization of a carbon-nanotube-based micro-focus x-ray tube for small animal imaging , 2010, Medical Imaging.

[21]  W. D. de Heer,et al.  A Carbon Nanotube Field-Emission Electron Source , 1995, Science.

[22]  Andrea Viti,et al.  Lung Cancer Detection with Digital Chest Tomosynthesis: Baseline Results from the Observational Study SOS , 2013, Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

[23]  L Barozzi,et al.  Comparison of radiation doses to patients undergoing standard radiographic examinations with conventional screen-film radiography, computed radiography and direct digital radiography. , 2006, The British journal of radiology.

[24]  Kyung Soo Lee,et al.  Digital tomosynthesis of the thorax: the influence of respiratory motion artifacts on lung nodule detection , 2013, Acta radiologica.

[25]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Demonstration of a scatter correction technique in digital breast tomosynthesis , 2013, Medical Imaging.

[26]  W. Hop,et al.  Progression of lung disease on computed tomography and pulmonary function tests in children and adults with cystic fibrosis , 2005, Thorax.

[27]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Stationary scanning x-ray source based on carbon nanotube field emitters , 2005 .

[28]  Kenji Ogawa,et al.  Tomosynthesis for the early detection of pulmonary emphysema: diagnostic performance compared with chest radiography, using multidetector computed tomography as reference , 2013, European Radiology.

[29]  R Peng,et al.  A dynamic micro-CT scanner based on a carbon nanotube field emission x-ray source , 2009, Physics in medicine and biology.

[30]  David W. Archer,et al.  Microbeam radiation therapy , 1999, Optics & Photonics.

[31]  S. Iijima.  Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon , 1991, Nature.

[32]  Laureline Berteloot,et al.  Model-based iterative reconstruction in pediatric chest CT: assessment of image quality in a prospective study of children with cystic fibrosis , 2013, Pediatric Radiology.

[33]  Ehsan Samei,et al.  A framework for optimising the radiographic technique in digital X-ray imaging. , 2005, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[34]  John M. Sabol,et al.  A Monte Carlo estimation of effective dose in chest tomosynthesis. , 2009, Medical physics.

[35]  Thomas Mertelmeier,et al.  Experimental validation of a three-dimensional linear system model for breast tomosynthesis. , 2008, Medical physics.

[36]  O. Zhou,et al.  Carbon nanotube electron field emitters for x-ray imaging of human breast cancer , 2014, Nanotechnology.

[37]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Anode thermal analysis of high power microfocus CNT x-ray tubes for in vivo small animal imaging , 2012, Medical Imaging.

[38]  Xinhua Li,et al.  A generic geometric calibration method for tomographic imaging systems with flat-panel detectors--a detailed implementation guide. , 2010, Medical physics.

[39]  K. Hori,et al.  Development of ultra-fast X-ray computed tomography scanner system , 1997, 1997 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record.

[40]  Yiheng Zhang,et al.  High resolution stationary digital breast tomosynthesis using distributed carbon nanotube x-ray source array. , 2012, Medical physics.

[41]  I. Björkman-Burtscher,et al.  Effective dose from chest tomosynthesis in children. , 2014, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[42]  G T Barnes,et al.  Contrast and scatter in x-ray imaging. , 1991, Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

[43]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Feasibility study of the diagnosis and monitoring of cystic fibrosis in pediatric patients using stationary digital chest tomosynthesis , 2015, Medical Imaging.

[44]  J. Boone,et al.  Evaluation of the spatial resolution characteristics of a cone-beam breast CT scanner. , 2006, Medical physics.

[45]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Stationary chest tomosynthesis using a carbon nanotube x-ray source array: a feasibility study , 2015, Physics in medicine and biology.

[46]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Generation of continuous and pulsed diagnostic imaging x-ray radiation using a carbon-nanotube-based field-emission cathode , 2002 .

[47]  Jonathan S. Maltz,et al.  Fixed gantry tomosynthesis system for radiation therapy image guidance based on a multiple source x-ray tube with carbon nanotube cathodes. , 2009 .

[48]  Tsutomu Gomi,et al.  Clinical Potential of Digital Linear Tomosynthesis Imaging of Total Joint Arthroplasty , 2008, Journal of Digital Imaging.

[49]  R Clackdoyle,et al.  Centers and centroids of the cone-beam projection of a ball , 2011, Physics in medicine and biology.

[50]  Santiago Martinez-Jimenez,et al.  Digital tomosynthesis of the chest for lung nodule detection: interim sensitivity results from an ongoing NIH-sponsored trial. , 2008, Medical physics.

[51]  Benjamin M. W. Tsui,et al.  Principles of Medical Imaging , 1992 .

[52]  H. Sugie,et al.  Carbon nanotubes as electron source in an x-ray tube , 2001 .

[53]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Low dose scatter correction for digital chest tomosynthesis , 2015, Medical Imaging.

[54]  Willi A. Kalender,et al.  Computed tomography : fundamentals, system technology, image quality, applications , 2000 .

[55]  Tao Wu,et al.  A comparison of reconstruction algorithms for breast tomosynthesis. , 2004, Medical physics.

[56]  W. Schubert,et al.  Tungsten: Properties, Chemistry, Technology of the Element, Alloys, and Chemical Compounds , 1999 .

[57]  齋藤 弥八,et al.  Carbon nanotube and related field emitters : fundamentals and applications , 2010 .

[58]  J. Strzelczyk.  The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging , 2003 .

[59]  Hiroaki Sugiura,et al.  Fast Scanning Tomosynthesis for the Detection of Pulmonary Nodules: Diagnostic Performance Compared With Chest Radiography, Using Multidetector-Row Computed Tomography as the Reference , 2011, Investigative radiology.

[60]  C P Lawinski,et al.  A comparison of the accuracy of film-screen mammography, full-field digital mammography, and digital breast tomosynthesis. , 2012, Clinical radiology.

[61]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Adapted fan-beam volume reconstruction for stationary digital breast tomosynthesis , 2015, Medical Imaging.

[62]  Andrew D. A. Maidment,et al.  Dynamic reconstruction and rendering of 3D tomosynthesis images , 2011, Medical Imaging.

[63]  Jenny Vikgren,et al.  Chest Tomosynthesis: Technical and Clinical Perspectives , 2014, Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

[64]  Magnus Båth,et al.  Effective dose to patients from chest examinations with tomosynthesis. , 2010, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[65]  D E Grider,et al.  Electron beam melting in microfocus X-ray tubes , 1986 .

[66]  Magnus Båth,et al.  Monte Carlo simulations of the dosimetry of chest tomosynthesis. , 2010, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[67]  Michael M Maher,et al.  Development of low-dose protocols for thin-section CT assessment of cystic fibrosis in pediatric patients. , 2010, Radiology.

[68]  M. Baxendale.  The physics and applications of carbon nanotubes , 2003 .

[69]  R. Fowler,et al.  Electron Emission in Intense Electric Fields , 1928 .

[70]  Mats Geijer,et al.  Description and validation of a scoring system for tomosynthesis in pulmonary cystic fibrosis , 2012, European Radiology.

[71]  P Laganis,et al.  A first generation compact microbeam radiation therapy system based on carbon nanotube X-ray technology. , 2013, Applied physics letters.

[72]  Michael J. Flynn,et al.  Spatial resolution of x-ray tomosynthesis in relation to computed tomography for coronal/sagittal images of the knee , 2007, SPIE Medical Imaging.

[73]  L. Rosenhead.  Conduction of Heat in Solids , 1947, Nature.

[74]  John M Boone,et al.  X-ray imaging physics for nuclear medicine technologists. Part 2: X-ray interactions and image formation. , 2005, Journal of nuclear medicine technology.

[75]  Michael J. Flynn,et al.  Microfocus X-ray sources for 3D microtomography , 1994 .

[76]  Michael Sandborg,et al.  Investigation of the effect of varying scatter-to-primary ratios on nodule contrast in chest tomosynthesis , 2011, Medical Imaging.

[77]  Anders Tingberg,et al.  X-ray tomosynthesis: a review of its use for breast and chest imaging. , 2010, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[78]  Kyung Soo Lee,et al.  Pulmonary mycobacterial disease: diagnostic performance of low-dose digital tomosynthesis as compared with chest radiography. , 2010, Radiology.

[79]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Stationary chest tomosynthesis using a CNT x-ray source array , 2013, Medical Imaging.

[80]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Prospective gated chest tomosynthesis using CNT X-ray source array , 2015, Medical Imaging.

[81]  Klaus Bacher,et al.  Digital tomosynthesis in the detection of urolithiasis: Diagnostic performance and dosimetry compared with digital radiography with MDCT as the reference standard. , 2010, AJR. American journal of roentgenology.

[82]  Mats Geijer,et al.  Tomosynthesis in pulmonary cystic fibrosis with comparison to radiography and computed tomography: a pictorial review , 2011, Insights into Imaging.

[83]  S. Okayama,et al.  Penetration and energy-loss theory of electrons in solid targets , 1972 .

[84]  Steve B. Jiang,et al.  The management of respiratory motion in radiation oncology report of AAPM Task Group 76. , 2006, Medical physics.

[85]  Erik L Ritman,et al.  Current status of developments and applications of micro-CT. , 2011, Annual review of biomedical engineering.

[86]  Yulia M. Levakhina.  Three-dimensional digital tomosynthesis: iterative reconstruction, artifact reduction and alternative acquisition geometry , 2014 .

[87]  P. Sly,et al.  Progression of early structural lung disease in young children with cystic fibrosis assessed using CT , 2011, Thorax.

[88]  O. Srivastava,et al.  Synthesis of carbon nanotubes. , 2005, Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

[89]  Otto Zhou,et al.  Dependency of image quality on system configuration parameters in a stationary digital breast tomosynthesis system. , 2013, Medical physics.

[90]  C. Beaulieu,et al.  Circular tomosynthesis: potential in imaging of breast and upper cervical spine--preliminary phantom and in vitro study. , 2003, Radiology.

[91]  James T. Dobbins,et al.  Chest tomosynthesis: technical principles and clinical update. , 2009, European journal of radiology.

[92]  Young Hee Lee,et al.  Fully sealed, high-brightness carbon-nanotube field-emission display , 1999 .