3D silicon detector for imaging of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine radiotracers with outstanding efficiency and high spatial resolution.

This project aims to develop a novel molecular imaging instrument using advanced silicon sensors to enhance efficiency and resolution, potentially revolutionizing medical imaging and related research fields.

Subsidie
€ 3.351.875
2024

Projectdetails

Introduction

This project aims to design, construct, and evaluate a novel instrument for molecular imaging of radioactive nuclides in the human body. The hypothesis is that, by using next-generation silicon sensors to measure each photon interaction and applying kinematic constraints, the incident photon direction can be calculated. Thus, we can remove state-of-the-art mechanical collimators.

Objectives

The main objective of this project is to explore the physical limits of efficiency and spatial resolution and evaluate the concept for this new technology in medical imaging applications.

Expected Improvements

The new instrument should improve detector efficiency by about a factor of one million, reducing examination time from an hour to less than a second. The concept aims to overcome Compton cameras' shortcomings, such as:

  1. Complicated geometries with low efficiency
  2. Limitations that have prevented this technique from going beyond an early prototype stage despite several attempts

Sensor Concept

The new sensor concept consists of a massive block of silicon built up from a multitude of sensors, with high resolution in space, energy, and time, and including signal shaping and data processing.

System Capabilities

The system will have orders of magnitude more read-out pixels than ever before in medical imaging. The system design and image reconstruction process are conceptually challenging, addressing several scientific problems at the component level, such as:

  • Pixel charge collection and capacitance
  • Image reconstruction from fragments of event circles
  • Combinatorial problems involved with tracing each event to discern the correct order of interactions
  • Rejecting background events

Long-term Impact

Over a 10–20-year period, the technology could replace the current installed base, leading to significant impacts on adjacent research fields, such as drug development and targeted radionuclide therapy.

Financiële details & Tijdlijn

Financiële details

Subsidiebedrag€ 3.351.875
Totale projectbegroting€ 3.351.875

Tijdlijn

Startdatum1-11-2024
Einddatum31-10-2029
Subsidiejaar2024

Partners & Locaties

Projectpartners

  • KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLANpenvoerder
  • ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEARE

Land(en)

SwedenItaly

Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council

ERC Starting...

Towards pediatric molecular imaging: development of a low-dose and high-performance Total Body PET scanner

Developing the PHOENIX total body PET scanner aims to enhance pediatric imaging by achieving high sensitivity and spatial resolution while ensuring patient safety and comfort.

€ 1.464.841
ERC Synergy ...

Smart Detectors for Darkfield X-ray Imaging

This project aims to revolutionize lung disease diagnosis by developing a novel dark-field X-ray detector that enhances early COPD detection while reducing radiation exposure.

€ 10.840.961
ERC Proof of...

Cherenkov light for total-body Positron Emission Tomography

The project aims to develop a cost-effective, high-performance PET scanner using Cherenkov photon detection to enhance early cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

€ 150.000
ERC Starting...

CHerenkov Light mOdulE for time-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography

The CHLOE-PET project aims to develop an advanced gamma detector for TOF-PET that enhances time and spatial resolution by up to 7 and 10 times, improving cancer diagnostics without extra costs.

€ 1.384.755
ERC Proof of...

Advanced imaging system for Medical Applications

The i-TED project aims to demonstrate the applicability of a gamma-ray imaging system in intraoperative Radio-Guided Surgery and neutron dose assessment in boron-neutron capture therapy.

€ 150.000

Vergelijkbare projecten uit andere regelingen

EIC Pathfinder

NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR 1 MICRON RESOLUTION BIOMEDICAL IMAGING

The 1MICRON project aims to revolutionize cancer detection by developing high-resolution, integrated x-ray sensors for immediate surgical feedback, potentially saving over 100,000 treatments annually in Europe.

€ 2.999.999
EIC Pathfinder

Fast gated superconducting nanowire camera for multi-functional optical tomograph

This project aims to develop a multifunctional optical tomograph using an innovative light sensor to enhance deep body imaging and monitor organ functionality with 100x improved signal-to-noise ratio.

€ 2.495.508
EIC Pathfinder

REAL TIME MOLECULAR IMAGER WITH UNSURPASSED RESOLUTION

RETIMAGER aims to revolutionize PET imaging by achieving ten-fold improvements in spatial and temporal resolution, enabling real-time, high-sensitivity imaging for personalized precision medicine.

€ 3.126.347
EIC Pathfinder

Next generation Limited-Angle time-of-flight PET imager

The PetVision project aims to develop a cost-effective, modular PET imaging device with enhanced sensitivity to improve cancer diagnostics accessibility across various medical settings.

€ 3.374.041
EIC Transition

Revolutionizing Spatial Biology with a cutting-edge Multi-Scale Imaging platform

The NanoSCAN project aims to develop the SAFe-nSCAN platform for high-resolution 3D tissue analysis, enhancing molecular profiling and advancing personalized therapies in immuno-oncology.

€ 2.489.162