photon counting computed tomography scanner

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 467675629

Photon counting computed tomography employs novel photon counting detector technology for detailed quantification of photon energy. Evaluation of signal information of low energy X-rays becomes feasible with very high spatial resolution and low radiation dose. Photon counting detectors collect multienergetic / multispectral data sets while emitting very low radiation and contrast material doses. In addition, the signal to noise ratio (SNR) will be improved and electric noise will be eliminated.Photon counting detectors register every single X-ray quantum and measure its energy. This energy information is available in every single scan and can be used for assessment of material and tissue characteristics for more precise diagnoses, for example when utilizing different contrast materials or for omitting image information or structures that superimposing pathologies.High resolution scans can display tiny anatomic details in high quality, e.g. for depiction of intracranial or coronary arteries. One objective of this scientific project is to improve cardiac and vascular imaging. Assessment of in-stent-lumen patency of coronary stents will be investigated in moving phantoms and patient studies in comparison to invasive coronary angiography. Arteriosclerotic and inflammatory changes of the cranial, cervical, pulmonary, mesenteric or peripheral vasculature will also be studied.The other main objective of this scientific project is to improve osseous texture analysis and imaging of trabecular architecture for assessment of occult fractures of the carpal and tarsal bones, spine and pelvis. Based on initial own results we want to explore the improved spectral capabilities of photon counting CT for assessment of osseous infiltration of malignant tumors such as multiple myeloma and leucaemia.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Photonenzählender Computertomograph
• Instrumentation Group: 3230 Tomographie- und Schichtgeräte (Röntgen-)
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Thorsten Bley