SUBLIMA

SUB nanosecond Leverage In PET/MR ImAging

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

The SUBLIMA project aims at truly simultaneous, fully integrated, solid-state PET/MR technology for concurrent functional and anatomical imaging with unsurpassed image quality. It will combine the extremely sensitive functional imaging possibilities provided by PET with the excellent soft-tissue contrast and complementary functional imaging capabilities of MR. For the first time, time-of-flight (ToF) and depth-of-interaction (DoI) correction will be introduced together into a PET/MR system. SUBLIMA will also be the first to exploit the unique advantages of truly simultaneous PET/MR acquisition by enabling fully 4D MR-derived motion correction. Furthermore, artefacts seen in PET-CT will be eliminated by developing MR-based, motion-compensated PET attenuation correction. The SUBLIMA platform will thus realize a breakthrough in image quality and enable novel applications in oncology, cardio-vascular medicine, and neuro-degenerative diseases. SUBLIMA will not only introduce new methods and technologies in each important component of the imaging chain, but it will also analyse the system performance as a function of all relevant design parameters, in order to push the image quality to the physical limits by optimally merging these innovations into 7T preclinical and 3T whole-body human demonstrator systems. This integrated approach also warrants adaptation of the project results for optimum performance in stand-alone PET and SPECT applications. The consortium, lead by Philips, consists of universities, research institutes, industrial partners, and SMEs, spread over 7 different countries including the USA. While each partner has shown exceptional quality in its own field, the consortium brings together the wide and complementary range of expertise necessary to push the performance of ToF-PET/MR to the physical limits.

Introduzione (Teaser)

A combination of two different existing imaging technologies is slated to take medical imaging to new heights. This bodes well for detecting tumours and other ailments such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's earlier than ever before.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Medical imaging has come a long way in recent years. Cutting-edge technologies include nuclear 3D positron emission tomography (PET) to map functional processes in the body and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualise its internal structures. The EU-funded project 'Sub nanosecond leverage in PET/MR imaging' (http://www.sublima-pet-mr.eu/ (SUBLIMA)) combined these techniques into a new PET/MR imaging method to unite the PET functional imaging possibilities with MR soft tissue imaging features.

The project worked on achieving truly simultaneous, fully integrated PET/MR technology for instantaneous functional and anatomical imaging with unsurpassed picture quality. It touched on all relevant parts of the imaging chain, seeking to push physical performance limits. A large part of the research targeted a novel MR-compatible and versatile PET detector concept that makes use of new materials and technology.

Specifically, the project worked on simulation and optimisation to improve human imaging reconstruction. This also involved optimisation of the crystal geometry of the PET detector, in addition to developing all the required software and hardware components.

SUBLIMA then conducted intense image quality assessment studies and finalised a pre-clinical PET/MR system. It also devised a scalable test system to investigate image performance for the whole body. Armed with extensive expertise in PET detector physics, the project team simulated several impressive demonstrations resulting in outstanding image quality improvements.

With early detection playing a vital role in disease treatment, the novel imaging system holds huge potential for improving health in the future. SUBLIMA imaging will contribute to increasing human life span while delivering less painful and more cost-effective treatments. Research into translational medicine, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's stands to gain significantly.