Pre-Clinical and Clinical Evaluation of High Resolution, Mobile Gamma Camera and Positron Imaging Devices

The purpose of this collaboration between the University of Florida (UF; David Gilland, PI), the University of South Florida (USF; Claudia Berman, Maria Kallergi, PIs) and Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is to design, build and evaluate compact, mobile, high resolution gamma ray and positron medical imaging devices. The targeted applications are molecular imaging of heart disease and breast cancer. Mobile gantries with articulated arms will position the imaging cameras close to the body. These compact, portable instruments will be suitable for organ-specific imaging in space-limited settings such as emergency rooms and surgical suites. Design and prototype studies of a compact, mobile bedside positron heart imager were performed at Jefferson Lab, with image reconstruction simulations and gantry design at UF. Imaging system fabrication is underway at Jefferson Lab and integration of the system components will be performed at UF. Pre-clinical and clinical cardiac imaging studies will be performed at UF. In the next phase of the project, a positron emission mammography (PEM) system will be designed and built at Jefferson Lab. Physicians and scientists at USF will evaluate the clinical role and benefit of molecular imaging in breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment, specifically focused on the clinical role of dedicated positron emission mammography systems.

References:
Tipnis UJ et al., 2004 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record. J. Anthony Seibert, Ed. Rome, Italy, October 16-22, 2004. ISBN 0-7803-8701-5
Tipnis UJ et al., 2003 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record. Scott Metzler, Ed. Portland, Oregon, October 19-25, 2003. ISBN 0-7803-8258-7