The Problem:
As the use of PET imaging continues to increase, it is imperative to address the current, inadequate means for motion correction. During PET imaging, a summation image is generated while the patient is instructed to lie still on his/her back for the duration of the scan. A typical PET scan lasts 15 to 30 minutes on average Patient motion during the scan can cause blurring and must be corrected in order to generate an accurate, high-resolution image. The most common problems are caused by subtle head & neck and respiratory motion as patients adjust the angle of their head and/or breathe deeply. For instance, the human diaphragm moves 1-2 cm during quiet breathing, and many PET scanners’ spatial resolution falls below this threshold. Even slight motion such as this is capable of causing misdiagnoses and increased costs due to repetitive scans. Therefore, reliable, cost-effective means for motion correction are needed.
The Technology Solution:
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have developed a novel technique to accurately correct for patient body motion during PET imaging. The current technology effectively corrects for common motion issues in the two primary sources of motion, head and neck movement, as well additional sources such as respiratory motion. This technology only requires data from a routine scan to provide correction of these kinds of motion in PET imaging, and thus will enable correction without the need for unreliable respiratory bands or invasive video monitoring systems.
Benefits:
• Capable of immediate implementation in routine clinical applications
• Broad application capabilities do not require specific proprietary software or PET instruments
• Generates superior image and resolution integrity
• Does not require use of respiratory bands or invasive video monitoring system
• Shorter, more reliable imaging improves the overall quality of patient care