POSITRON MULTI-DECTECTOR BRAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP A NEW POSITRON MULTIDETECTOR BRAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM. THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE FEASIBILITYDEMONSTRATION OF A COMPUTER-CONTROLLED SYSTEM TO ANALYZE BRAIN TUMORS USING REGISTERED IMAGES SUCH AS MR/CT. A MATHEMATICAL MODEL INCORPORATING ANATOMICAL INFORMATION FROMMR IS PROVIDED TO CALCULATE THE ACTIVITY OF THE TUMOR. THE USE OF REGISTERED MR/CT IMAGES PROVIDES A TECHNIQUE FOR FOLLOWING THE COURSE OF RADIATION TREATMENT. THIS TECHNIQUE IS NEW AND INNOVATIVE SINCE IT COMBINES BOTH IMAGE MENSURATION OF THE SIZE OF THE TUMORS AS WELL AS THEIRPHYSIOLOGIC ACTIVITY. IT PROVIDES THIS CAPABILITY AT APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 PERCENT OF THE COST OF A PET SCANNER, MAKING IT A VIABLE SUPPLEMENT OR REPLACEMENT FOR PET IN MANYTYPES OF STUDIES. IT HAS APPLICATION AS A MONITORING INSTRUMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF TUMORS WHERE IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO OBSERVE TISSUE CONDITION REPEATEDLY OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE SYSTEM ALLOWS REDUCED RADIATION EXPOSURE, PERMITTING UP TO 200 SCANS PER YEAR VERSUS A LIMIT OF 3 PER YEAR FOR PET. THE DESIGN OF THE DEVICE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM A SINGLE MEASUREMENT.