Three-dimensional quantitative x-ray phase imaging
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Medical Physics and Biomedical Eng
Abstract
X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging (XPCI) is one of the most exciting new methods emerged in x-ray science over recent years. It generates image contrast based on refraction and interference phenomena rather than x-ray attenuation, which enhances the visibility of all details in an image. Moreover, features classically considered "x-ray invisible" can be detected by XPCI. This has transformative power in many applications, from medicine to industrial testing, through biology, cultural heritage, material science, security inspections, and many other fields. It is worth remembering that the use of x-rays is all pervasive, both in science and in society, and all areas where x-ray imaging is used can strongly benefit from XPCI.
The problem up to a few years ago was that XPCI was considered restricted to large, specialized and expensive facilities called synchrotrons - only approximately 50 of which exist in the world. However, my research group has recently solved this problem by developing a method that enables XPCI to be performed with conventional x-ray sources, like those used in hospitals. This will allow taking XPCI out of ultra-specialized labs and into "real-world" applications, and negotiations with various companies are indeed underway to take the technology into commercial exploitation.
This project aims at developing the next generation of this technology. At the moment, our XPCI method works only in 2D, "planar" imaging applications. Although this is useful in itself, and is effectively employed in some areas (e.g. mammography or baggage scanning at airports), many other applications require the full 3D ("tomographic") reconstruction of the imaged sample. This is a well known problem in medicine, where for example some diseases cannot be diagnosed with a simple "x-ray" but require a CT (computed tomography) scan; the same principle also applies to many other areas, where full 3D knowledge of the sample is essential to the decision-making process that follows. Examples are in the development of new drugs, the effect of which is often assessed through high-resolution 3D images of the small animals on which they are tested, or in the testing of sophisticated mechanical parts or of new "composite" materials.
This project therefore aims at the development of a quantitative, full 3D version of our XPCI method. This requires overcoming a number of obstacles, some of which have a very technical nature. For example, in order to make x-ray imaging systems sensitive to x-ray phase, we use masks, which cover parts of the imaged object. Although this does not create a problem in planar imaging, because the portions of the sample which are covered are smaller than the smallest element the imaging system can resolve (the detector pixel), it does result in significant artifacts when a 3D volume is reconstructed, because of a problem known as undersampling. This is also encountered in other disciplines (for example nuclear medicine), and researchers have developed new, more sophisticated reconstruction tools which allow solving or at least mitigating this problem. We therefore plan to adapt these new reconstruction tools to the specific requirements of our XPCI method, so that reliable and quantitative 3D "phase" reconstruction can be performed.
Initially, this will be based on an extensive simulation phase during which different algorithms will be tested on various datasets, which will enable identifying the most promising ones. This will be followed by an experimental phase in which we will test the algorithms on real experimental data: this will allow selecting the best solution and fine-tuning it. Finally, there will be a demonstration phase in which the optimized 3D method will be applied to real scientific problems, among which for example the 3D visualization of small damage in articular cartilage (notoriously invisible to conventional x-ray methods), or of intrusion/defects in new-generation composite materials.
The problem up to a few years ago was that XPCI was considered restricted to large, specialized and expensive facilities called synchrotrons - only approximately 50 of which exist in the world. However, my research group has recently solved this problem by developing a method that enables XPCI to be performed with conventional x-ray sources, like those used in hospitals. This will allow taking XPCI out of ultra-specialized labs and into "real-world" applications, and negotiations with various companies are indeed underway to take the technology into commercial exploitation.
This project aims at developing the next generation of this technology. At the moment, our XPCI method works only in 2D, "planar" imaging applications. Although this is useful in itself, and is effectively employed in some areas (e.g. mammography or baggage scanning at airports), many other applications require the full 3D ("tomographic") reconstruction of the imaged sample. This is a well known problem in medicine, where for example some diseases cannot be diagnosed with a simple "x-ray" but require a CT (computed tomography) scan; the same principle also applies to many other areas, where full 3D knowledge of the sample is essential to the decision-making process that follows. Examples are in the development of new drugs, the effect of which is often assessed through high-resolution 3D images of the small animals on which they are tested, or in the testing of sophisticated mechanical parts or of new "composite" materials.
This project therefore aims at the development of a quantitative, full 3D version of our XPCI method. This requires overcoming a number of obstacles, some of which have a very technical nature. For example, in order to make x-ray imaging systems sensitive to x-ray phase, we use masks, which cover parts of the imaged object. Although this does not create a problem in planar imaging, because the portions of the sample which are covered are smaller than the smallest element the imaging system can resolve (the detector pixel), it does result in significant artifacts when a 3D volume is reconstructed, because of a problem known as undersampling. This is also encountered in other disciplines (for example nuclear medicine), and researchers have developed new, more sophisticated reconstruction tools which allow solving or at least mitigating this problem. We therefore plan to adapt these new reconstruction tools to the specific requirements of our XPCI method, so that reliable and quantitative 3D "phase" reconstruction can be performed.
Initially, this will be based on an extensive simulation phase during which different algorithms will be tested on various datasets, which will enable identifying the most promising ones. This will be followed by an experimental phase in which we will test the algorithms on real experimental data: this will allow selecting the best solution and fine-tuning it. Finally, there will be a demonstration phase in which the optimized 3D method will be applied to real scientific problems, among which for example the 3D visualization of small damage in articular cartilage (notoriously invisible to conventional x-ray methods), or of intrusion/defects in new-generation composite materials.
Planned Impact
This project is expected to have significant impact, as it will substantially improve all applications of x-ray imaging. This is a direct consequence of the fact that, although sometimes overlooked, x-ray imaging is widely used in science and society. The main areas of impact include:
Medicine: in the long term, we aim at creating a step change in the early diagnosis of a wide variety of diseases, as well as in the planning/delivery/assessment of medical treatments. Our phase imaging methodologies can do this because they allow the visualization of features currently undetectable, which can enable the diagnosis of diseases at an earlier stage. This is of paramount importance in lethal diseases like cancer, as it can make the difference between a cancer that can be cured and one that cannot. However, early diagnosis is important also in non life-threatening diseases (e.g. one example that we will explicitly target is osteoarthritis), as treating a disease at an earlier stage can lead to a different evolution of the disease itself, and therefore to improved quality of life, with less need for constant care, etc. Beneficiaries include clinicians, who will have access to new diagnostic tools; the NHS, which will be able to reduce costs and provide better healthcare as a result of improved and less invasive diagnostic techniques; the medical industry, through the commercialization of the new technology, and, ultimately and most importantly, the patients.
Material science: we will provide a powerful new test tool for composite materials. These materials are the future workhorse of the aerospace and transport industries and are currently very difficult to test. The aerospace and transport sectors will benefit, but beneficiaries will also include manufacturers of test systems, Governmental bodies and the general public.
Another area that we will target is that of early detection of corrosion/porosity/fatigue cracks in a variety of materials. This will be beneficial to various industrial sectors, and include pathways to improved waste control. In general terms, the development of improved non-destructive testing tools will be of benefit to a variety of industrial products including microchips and other electronic components, pharmaceuticals, etc. It should be noted that better testing tools are also key to reduce the carbon footprint of all products.
Biology: we will produce phase-based 3D x-ray scanners which will enable new studies to be performed in conventional laboratories. This includes studies now possible only at synchrotrons. Some areas of cell biology, tissue studies to understand important diseases, etc are just a few examples in which the developed instruments will generate benefit not only to the scientific community, but also to the pharmaceutical industry and thus ultimately to the NHS and the patients. This also includes the development of new small-animal scanners with increased sensitivity.
Finally, companies active in the development and commercialization of scientific equipment will benefit from novel instrumentation developed in this project. Not only does this include manufacturers of x-ray sources, detectors, full imaging systems, etc but also companies active in the field of nanofabrication, and in particular microlithography, should the inclusion of apertured masks or similar devices become common practice in x-ray systems.
Medicine: in the long term, we aim at creating a step change in the early diagnosis of a wide variety of diseases, as well as in the planning/delivery/assessment of medical treatments. Our phase imaging methodologies can do this because they allow the visualization of features currently undetectable, which can enable the diagnosis of diseases at an earlier stage. This is of paramount importance in lethal diseases like cancer, as it can make the difference between a cancer that can be cured and one that cannot. However, early diagnosis is important also in non life-threatening diseases (e.g. one example that we will explicitly target is osteoarthritis), as treating a disease at an earlier stage can lead to a different evolution of the disease itself, and therefore to improved quality of life, with less need for constant care, etc. Beneficiaries include clinicians, who will have access to new diagnostic tools; the NHS, which will be able to reduce costs and provide better healthcare as a result of improved and less invasive diagnostic techniques; the medical industry, through the commercialization of the new technology, and, ultimately and most importantly, the patients.
Material science: we will provide a powerful new test tool for composite materials. These materials are the future workhorse of the aerospace and transport industries and are currently very difficult to test. The aerospace and transport sectors will benefit, but beneficiaries will also include manufacturers of test systems, Governmental bodies and the general public.
Another area that we will target is that of early detection of corrosion/porosity/fatigue cracks in a variety of materials. This will be beneficial to various industrial sectors, and include pathways to improved waste control. In general terms, the development of improved non-destructive testing tools will be of benefit to a variety of industrial products including microchips and other electronic components, pharmaceuticals, etc. It should be noted that better testing tools are also key to reduce the carbon footprint of all products.
Biology: we will produce phase-based 3D x-ray scanners which will enable new studies to be performed in conventional laboratories. This includes studies now possible only at synchrotrons. Some areas of cell biology, tissue studies to understand important diseases, etc are just a few examples in which the developed instruments will generate benefit not only to the scientific community, but also to the pharmaceutical industry and thus ultimately to the NHS and the patients. This also includes the development of new small-animal scanners with increased sensitivity.
Finally, companies active in the development and commercialization of scientific equipment will benefit from novel instrumentation developed in this project. Not only does this include manufacturers of x-ray sources, detectors, full imaging systems, etc but also companies active in the field of nanofabrication, and in particular microlithography, should the inclusion of apertured masks or similar devices become common practice in x-ray systems.
Organisations
- University College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Columbia University (Collaboration)
- Creatv MicroTech (Collaboration)
- MicroWorks (Collaboration)
- CMP Information (Collaboration)
- University of Saskatchewan (Collaboration)
- University of Kyoto (Collaboration)
- DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE (Collaboration)
- Quantum Detectors (Collaboration)
- QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (Collaboration)
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste (Collaboration)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) (Collaboration)
- Perkin Elmer (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- Direct Conversion AB (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Nikon (Collaboration)
- University of Western Australia (Collaboration)
- Scintacor (Collaboration)
- Lackland Independent School District (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Collaboration)
- Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) (Collaboration)
- University of Antwerp (Collaboration)
- Qinetiq (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Nikon (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Imperial College London (Project Partner)
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Project Partner)
- Diamond Light Source (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Alessandro Olivo (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Brombal L
(2019)
Monochromatic Propagation-Based Phase-Contrast Microscale Computed-Tomography System with a Rotating-Anode Source
in Physical Review Applied
Chen Y
(2020)
A partial-dithering strategy for edge-illumination x-ray phase-contrast tomography enabled by a joint reconstruction method.
in Physics in medicine and biology
Endrizzi M
(2014)
Edge-illumination X-ray phase contrast imaging: matching the imaging method to the detector technology
in Journal of Instrumentation
Guan H
(2018)
Subspace-based resolution-enhancing image reconstruction method for few-view differential phase-contrast tomography.
in Journal of medical imaging (Bellingham, Wash.)
Hagen C
(2016)
Reverse projection retrieval in edge illumination x-ray phase contrast computed tomography
in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Hagen C
(2015)
A continuous sampling scheme for edge illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging
in Journal of Applied Physics
Hagen C
(2014)
The effect of the spatial sampling rate on quantitative phase information extracted from planar and tomographic edge illumination x-ray phase contrast images
in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Hagen CK
(2014)
Low-dose phase contrast tomography with conventional x-ray sources.
in Medical physics
Hagen CK
(2014)
Theory and preliminary experimental verification of quantitative edge illumination x-ray phase contrast tomography.
in Optics express
Description | Over recent years a new, much more powerful method has emerged that enables performing x-ray imaging based on the phase changes that x-rays suffer when traversing an object, rather than x-ray absorption. This enhances the visibility of all details in an x-ray image, and enables the visualisation of features classically considered x-ray invisible, with impact over a wide range of disciplines (earlier detection of tumours and other diseases, improved industrial testing methods, enhanced security at airports and customs, etc). Although there are other methods that enable exploiting x-ray phase, the one developed at UCL works with conventional (incoherent) sources, hence enabling deployment into clinics, industry, customs, etc. Before this project, the method was a planar one, i.e. it only allowed 2D projection x-ray images to be acquired. With this project, we have transformed it into a fully 3D, tomographic one, hence significantly increasing its range of potential applications. |
Exploitation Route | The immediate impact is that any laboratory in the world can now perform phase-based x-ray computed tomography using simple equipment available off-the-shelf, which was previously impossible. This has significant implications for research in medicine, biology, material science, cultural heritage and many other areas. In the medium term, this will be used by industry e.g. for non-destructive testing. The next step will be its use in pre-clinical studies e.g. for the development of new drugs for a variety of diseases: in fact, using phase contrast, the smallest drug-induced changes could be picked up e.g. in a small-animal study. Finally, we anticipate a full clinical translation and that the technology will be used for the improved diagnosis of a series of important diseases, including, but not limited to, cancer. The key element to add to the previous submission is that more collaborations have been established, that a partner for exploitation in pre-clinical imaging (Perking Elmer) has been identified and activities are on the way, and that the first pre-commercial prototypes have been developed with Nikon Metrology UK (now "Nikon X-Tek Systems"). As a final addition, the technology will be made widely available to Academic and Industrial users from the UK and worldwide through its inclusion in the National Research Facility for lab x-ray CT (EP/T02593X/1). |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Electronics Energy Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Transport Other |
URL | http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medphys/research/axim |
Description | When this project started, the technology was still in its infancy; through this project it has been transformed into a fully-fledged, quantitative 3D method. Thanks to this and other developments, the technology is now starting to be picked up and developed by industry. After receiving expressions of interest from approximately 20 companies, we have signed an agreement with one (for exploitation in NDT/metrology/industrial/security screening/specimen imaging), we have an option and an externally funded project in place with a second one (for exploitation in pre-clinical imaging), and we are discussing options with two more companies for exploitation in clinical imaging. Since the last update of this document, the name of the first company we signed the agreement with has been made known (Nikon/Nikon Metrology UK); more recently, Nikon Metrology UK has also signed an additional agreement with Anglo Scientific for exploitation in security, which resulted in the creation of a dedicated startup (XPCI Technology Ltd). In addition to the above, an agreement has been recently been reached with a company (Perkin Elmer) for exploitation in the pre-clinical field, and the first pre-commercial prototypes have been built with the existing partners. New areas of exploitation have also been opened, and are currently being explored. A significant amount of engagement activities has also been undertaken, at all levels (see dedicated section of this submission). The technology will also be made widely available to Academic and Industrial users from the UK and worldwide through its inclusion in the National Research Facility for lab X-ray CT (EP/T02593X/1). |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Electronics,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | A soft X-Ray Phase-Based Microscope for Biomedical Applications |
Amount | $1,800,000 (USD) |
Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United States |
Start | 04/2020 |
End | 01/2024 |
Description | Dynamic multi-modal x-ray imaging (DM-MX) |
Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ATTRACT 13 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 07/2020 |
Description | EPSRC Healthcare Impact Partnership "Improving the outcomes of oesophageal interventions through novel x-ray based imaging methods" |
Amount | £948,478 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P023231/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2017 |
End | 01/2021 |
Description | EXPITIS - Edge illumination X-ray phase contrast imaging with equiangular time-delay integration scanning |
Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ATTRACT 424 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 07/2020 |
Description | Evaluation of edge-illumination based CT for commercialization of the method in industrial applications |
Amount | £21,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Nikon |
Sector | Private |
Country | Global |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 02/2016 |
Description | Experimental equipment at UCL - X-Ray bundle |
Amount | £843,989 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2015 |
End | 03/2016 |
Description | HICF ("EFFICIENT INTRAOPERATIVE DETECTION OF TUMOUR MARGINS THROUGH X-RAY PHASE CONTRAST CT") |
Amount | £1,240,861 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 200137/Z/15/Z |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2016 |
End | 10/2019 |
Description | International Exchanges award |
Amount | £1,308 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 06/2017 |
Description | Label-free multi-scale x-ray imaging for the study of cell differentiation and colonisation of scaffolds in regenerative medicine |
Amount | £8,160 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2019 |
End | 12/2022 |
Description | ML-CYCLO-CT - Combining cycloidal computed tomography with machine learning: a mechanism to disrupt the costly relationship between spatial resolution and radiation dose |
Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ATTRACT 87 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 07/2020 |
Description | Micro-radian x-ray scattering: transformative technology for industrial and medical diagnostics |
Amount | £2,780,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | CiET1819\2\78 |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2029 |
Description | National Research Facility for Lab X-ray CT |
Amount | £10,097,652 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T02593X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2020 |
End | 10/2025 |
Description | Nikon-UCL Prosperity Partnership on Next-Generation X-Ray Imaging |
Amount | £2,283,598 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T005408/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2020 |
End | 11/2025 |
Description | PLAN TO ACQUIRE MINIATURIZE THE EDGE ILLUMINATION (EI) X-RAY PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING (XPCI) SETUP TO MEET PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A PRE-CLINICAL IMAGING SYSTEM |
Amount | £114,483 (GBP) |
Organisation | Perkin Elmer |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 11/2017 |
End | 08/2018 |
Description | Workshop Allocation - European Cooperation for Science and Technology (COST) in the framework of action MP1207 (Enhanced X-ray Tomographic Reconstruction: Experiment, Modeling, and Algorithms) |
Amount | € 5,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | Workshop Allocation - European Cooperation for Science and Technology (COST) in the framework of action MP1207 (Enhanced X-ray Tomographic Reconstruction: Experiment, Modeling, and Algorithms) |
Amount | € 5,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | XCOL: low-cost large area X-ray colour image sensors |
Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | ATTRACT 247 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 07/2020 |
Title | Cycloidal Computed Tomography |
Description | This is a new CT method in which the object is rototranslated in a structured beam. It increases resolution and there is prelimnary evidence that it can lead to dose reductions. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This has been the subject of a UCL press release, and picked up by several media worldwide, e.g.: https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.1.20200730a/full/ https://physicsworld.com/a/cycloidal-ct-boosts-image-quality-while-reducing-radiation-dose/ https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200724/Novel-CT-scan-method-reduces-radiation-exposure.aspx https://www.medimaging.net/general-imaging/articles/294783761/innovative-ct-scan-technique-reduces-radiation-exposure.html https://medicaldialogues.in/radiology/news/new-ct-scan-technique-may-help-lower-radiation-exposure-67943 https://www.wbmirror.com/2020/07/24/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure/ https://www.theimagingwire.com/2020/07/27/pocus-alternative-cv19-pxs-pain-change/ https://www.itnonline.com/content/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure https://www.diagnosticimaging.com/view/new-ct-method-could-lower-radiation-exposure https://www.auntminnieeurope.com/index.aspx?sec=ser?=def&pag=dis&ItemID=619072 https://www.healthimaging.com/topics/diagnostic-imaging/ct-slashes-radiation-retaining-image-quality?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=hi_diagnostic_imaging https://www.plexusmd.com/md/post/cycloidal-computed-tomography-a-novel/56502 http://colgatephys111.blogspot.com/2020/11/dr-charlotte-hagen.html https://www.mazree.com/article/the-most-innovative-medical-equipment-in-2020/74 https://qsstudy.com/technology/new-ct-scan-technique-reduces-radiation-exposure https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/52036 |
URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/jul/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure |
Title | Non-iterative phase integration |
Description | Most x-ray phase imaging methods are "differential" i.e. yield the first derivative of the phase change - this has to be integrated to obtaine the phase, and direct integration results in significant image artefacts. Up to now the only way to obtain artefact-free integration was through iterative approaches, which are extremely computationally intensive - making applications in CT very difficult, as in that case many images (one per projection angle) need to be integrated. We have developed a non-iterative method that yields equivalently artefact-free results. |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | It is too early to say but we expect it will be widely adopted; our group and our collaborators are already using it. |
Description | Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica |
Organisation | CMP Information |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We are providing datasets on which to flexibly implement and further develop their machine learning solutions |
Collaborator Contribution | They are providing us with access to their machine learning solutions |
Impact | Still early but we have a first joint paper in preparation |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Creatv Microtech |
Organisation | Creatv MicroTech |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Creatv Microtech has fabricated most of the masks we have used so far in our edge-illuminaiton approach. I have effectively opened a new line of business for them, since other groups have ordered similar devices since. I have visited them in two occasions and held lectures to explain how we use the masks and why, which culminated in meetings aimed at improving the mask fabrication process. The first iteration has already taken place resulting in masks with less defects and better gold/substrate adhesion; another is imminent which will be aimed at the fabrication of masks with larger areas. |
Collaborator Contribution | Creatv Microtech has fabricated for free a number of test structures, which we used in several experiments. In one occasions, they have invited me over at their expenses and showed me their facilities, which enabled a much better understanding of the mask fabrication process and especially of what can and cannot be done with the technology. They have also brokered contacts with the FDA (wit which the terms of a collaboration are under discussion which, if successful, will result in their endorsement of our technology) and with the Frederick Cancer Institute, again a very valuable contact for future collaborations. |
Impact | Papers are not particularly relevant in this case although one could argue that most edge-illumination phase contrast papers would not have been possible without Creatv Microtech. One important outcome is the availability of mask-based systems not only in our labs but also at Elettra, Diamond and the ESRF (for what concerns our collaborators), plus other labs worldwide e.g. the Universities of Houston and Saskatchewan and soon the FDA and possibly DESY in Hamburg, Germany; considering that out technology is very young we expect this to keep growing in the near future. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Diamond |
Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I have been involved in the beamline design phase as a member of the user working group. When the beamtime became operational, I have installed an edge illumination system at beamline I13 and developed two other new phase-based imaging methods which will become available to the user community. |
Collaborator Contribution | They have provided access to beamtime, sample preparation and other labs, analysis software, computational resources, participated in the data analyse sand in proposal and paper writing. |
Impact | So far this has resulted in 6 joint publications; moreover a long (6 days) beamtime has recently (Nov 2014) been concluded and analysis of the data is underway, which we expect to lead to more publications. As well as physics and engineering, applications of the new imaging methods have so far included medicine, biology and material science. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Elettra Synchrotron |
Organisation | Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have installed an edge illumination phase contrast system at beamline 6.1 "SYRMEP" at ELETTRA. This is now available also to other users (e.g. a paper is currently (Nov 2014) in press on Phys. Med. Biol., for the first time without the direct involvement of my group); for the time being on a collaborative basis, in the longer term to all users. ELETTRA is the only beamline in the world where phase contrast mammography is performed in vivo on human patients: plans are currently underway to include edge-illumination in the clinical experimentation for additional phase sensitivity. A large EU grant has recently been submitted as a first step in this direction. |
Collaborator Contribution | They have provided free beamtime in many occasions, as well as access to support labs, sample preparation, fabrication, bench top CT machines etc. They have participated in the data analysis and writing of the papers. |
Impact | So far this resulted in 9 joint papers (see publication list), with more in preparation. The collaboration is interdisciplinary as it combines physics, engineering, medicine, biology, material science. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | European Synchrotron Radiation Facility |
Organisation | European Synchrotron Radiation Facility |
Country | France |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | I have installed an edge illumination phase contrast system at beam lie ID17 at the ESRF. This is now available also to other users, for the time being on a collaborative basis, in the longer term to all users. This system enabled establishing a new world record in phase sensitivity (1.9 nano radians) which led to a prestigious paper in PRL. This was reported in the ESRF's research highlights for 2013. In addition, we have opened new areas of research e.g. in palaeontology and have currently established a task force for the minimisation of the delivered dose in mammography. |
Collaborator Contribution | The repeatedly offered in-house research time with full support of the technical and scientific staff, access to analysis and reconstruction software (including remotely from UCL), data storage, access to ancillary instrumentation and to their animal facility. They also participated in the data analysis, paper writing as well as writing of beamtime and grant proposals. |
Impact | So far, 5 joint papers (see publication list) including in leading journals such as Physical Review Letters and Optics Letters, additional extension of the collaboration network (e.g. with the ESRF detector group and with the Ludwig-Maximillian University of Munich) and recently the submission of a large EU collaborative grant (pending). The collaboration is highly interdisciplinary and combines physics and engineering with medicine, biology, palaeontology, material science and other disciplines. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Great Ormond Street Hospital |
Organisation | Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | This is yet another outstanding problem which our imaging method can solve. Prof. Sebire from GOSH has an interest in imaging stillbirth foetuses, since ascertaining the cause of death is of mandatory importance but many parents object to post-mortems. The only imaging method that could (partly) satisfy this need is high-res MRI but this is very expensive and acquisition times are very long if sufficiently high resolution has to be reached. In a preliminary proof-of-concept experiment I have demonstrated that phase-contrast x-ray imaging could solve this problem. |
Collaborator Contribution | They have significantly contributed to the design of the experiment, to writing the proposal to get access to beamtime at the ESRF (we obtained proof of concept at a synchrotron and the nest step will be lab-based translation), have travelled to Grenoble at their own expenses to participate in the experiment and are currently helping with the data analysis. |
Impact | Again a recent addition to our range of collaborations so no outputs yet, but a paper is in preparation and we are laying down plans for future (lab-based) developments of the research - which is again interdisciplinary (physics/engineering and medicine). |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | ISDI |
Organisation | Lackland Independent School District |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are helping develop and test new detection technology, as well as developing new application areas. |
Collaborator Contribution | They provide us access to their detection technology and design know-how; they are also currently co-funding a PhD student |
Impact | This collaboration has only just started, and mutual training is underway. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Imperial College Bioeng |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The main interest of the team at Imperial was to visualise early signs of damage in murine cartilage to develop new treatment strategies for osteoarthritis. We provided a means to do this through our phase-based x-ray imaging methods, first at synchrotrons then with conventional sources. |
Collaborator Contribution | They provided all the murine samples, led the image analysis and contributed to the writing of the articles. |
Impact | We have published 4 joint papers and won a joint research grant. Clearly interdisciplinary - physics/engineering meets biology. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Institute of Child Health |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | Institute of Child Health |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The research of the group we collaborate with focuses on stem cell-based regenerative medicine. I have started to solve one of their key problems which is the visualisation of scaffold repopulation processes post cell implantation, as well as structure of the scaffolds themselves (they use very peculiar scaffolds obtained from decellularized animal or cadaveric tissue). |
Collaborator Contribution | They have provided a large number of extremely valuable, refined and unique samples for both our synchrotron and lab-based experiments, plus key data interpretation as this is a completely new area for us. They have contributed to the data analysis and paper writing. |
Impact | This is a very recent collaboration however one paper is currently under review with a high impact factor journal (Journal of Hepatology, IF 10.4) and two more are in preparation. The collaboration is exquisitely interdisciplinary - physics, engineering and imaging science meet medicine and biology. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Kyoto University |
Organisation | University of Kyoto |
Department | Graduate School of Informatics |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Integrated our imaging method in their new image reconstruction framework |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of ad-hoc reconstruction methods for our imaging approaches |
Impact | Development of new algorithms |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Ludwig-Maximillian University Munich |
Organisation | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have adapted our imaging technologies to teh need of the biomedical research performed by teh group at LMU - mostly with synchrotrons, but also conventional laboratory x-ray sources. |
Collaborator Contribution | Have provided samples for a variety of biomedical applications and contributed significantly to the data analysis |
Impact | This has for teh momoent resulted in several papers, joint conference presentations, and the installation of a new set up at the ESRF |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Microworks |
Organisation | MicroWorks |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We are suggesting new x-ray mask designs to target new application, and testing them once they have been produced |
Collaborator Contribution | They stretched their design capabilities to design "ad hoc" masks, and provide test structures |
Impact | Too early - first experiments extremely promising. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Nikon Japan and Nikon Metrology UK |
Organisation | Nikon |
Department | Nikon UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I have introduced Nikon to our new imaging technology, provided them with access to our labs, explored together new areas of application in metrology and industrial testing. The next steps will be to extend this to new applications and help them with the design of a prototype that will be installed in Japan. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Nikon team has funded x-ray phase contrast research at UCL in three successive instalments, for the overall total indicated above. A team from Nikon has repeatedly visited us and we have performed a series of experiments together, as well as joint data analysis. They have provided several samples as well as new analysis tools, especially for dark field imaging. They have installed a new x-ray source in our labs and repeatedly given access to their labs in Tring for preliminary tests. |
Impact | Albeit most of the specific sample-orientated research is unpublished for confidentiality reasons, this research led to the development of the first lab-based hard x-ray phase contrast imaging microscope (See Endrizzi et al 2014 Opt. Lett. paper in outputs, where Nikon appears in the acknowledgments). It led to a new instrument being available in the UCL phase contrast labs which has successfully been used by other communities (e.g. for the development of electrochemical devices, where we have demonstrated detection of dendritic formation in lithium-based batteries - paper in preparation). In this sense this collaboration is interdisciplinary as it covers physics, mathematics of image reconstruction, industrial testing, energy materials, materials for transport (e.g. composites). We have plans to expand this in the area of biology soon. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Perkin-Elmer |
Organisation | Perkin Elmer |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We have run a proof-of-concept study on the potential of our technology on pre-clinical (small-animal) imaging, on which the partner is a market leader |
Collaborator Contribution | They have funded research at UCL, reviewed all our data, helped defining the specs both in terms of imaging performance and scanner characteristics. We are currently considering a project with broader scope. |
Impact | We have started to generate a database of images of interest in the area of pre-clinical imaging. We are currently considering publication/conference presentations, and scoping out a larger project. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | QMUL |
Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
Department | Barts Cancer Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have proposed the use of our new imaging techniques for a) the earlier diagnosis of breast cancer and b) a tool to detect tumour micro-invasion in tissue contrast. I have imaged ~100 tissue specimens with our laboratory setup, and a few tens of tissue constructs with synchrotron radiation (at Diamond). |
Collaborator Contribution | They have provided hundreds of samples, trained my team on tissue histology and tumour formation, image interpretation, histological confirmation. |
Impact | We have published 2 papers together and co-written a successful grant application. The research is at the interface between physics/engineering and medicine/biology. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Quantum Detectors |
Organisation | Quantum Detectors |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We have agreed to collaborate and actions have not started yet; we will use their detector technology in a radically new application. |
Collaborator Contribution | They will provide access to and training on their unique detector technology. |
Impact | None yet (see above) |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Scintacor |
Organisation | Scintacor |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We are providing them access to our technology, co-developing a completely new application |
Collaborator Contribution | They are developing a new process for a structured scintillator that would transform our x-ray phase contrast imaging method |
Impact | We have set up the process and are currently refining it; this will be followed by tests which will clarify the potential of the application. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | University of Antwerp |
Organisation | University of Antwerp |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have hosted one of their researchers for a month; this researcher has performed successful experiments and data analysis is underway |
Collaborator Contribution | Offer of manpower (staff time), technicla meetings, joint data analysis |
Impact | This is too early to say as analysis is still under way |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | University of Bristol |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have introduced advanced x-ray imaging to the range of tools Kafienah's team use to characterise their cartilage regeneration/engineering approaches. This has resulted in the award of synchrotron beamtime at Diamond to perform a first collaborative experiment - analysis of the results is currently underway. |
Collaborator Contribution | They provided a range of engineered cartilage samples at different stages of maturation. As well as for the above mentioned experiment, we have used this as pilot samples to train a group member in the use of atomic force microscopy, therefore expaning our skillset - we are currently considering including the atomic force microscopy results in the publication on teh x-ray results. |
Impact | none yet other than new knowledge in the respective groups |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | University of Saskatchewan |
Organisation | University of Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have been invited over to Saskatoon in May 2013 to train the local scientist on our edge-illuminaiton method and give an extended lecture to their students. This has been followed by a visit of Prof. James Montgomery to UCL in Feb 2015, during which we have initiated tests on a new area of medical research - imaging of prostate cancer. Following that I have co-written an application for a Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowship with another member of the Saskatoon team - Dr. Mike Wesolowski. This has been successful and, as a result, Dr. Wesolowski is with us as I write (Oct 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | The Saskatoon team has created an interest group in edge-illumination phase contrast imaging which is investigating our method with the aim to install it (with our help) a) at the local synchrotron b) in their lab (with a conventional source). They have submitted three grant applications to enable this and are waiting to hear on the outcomes. Prof. Montgomery has visited us and brought over (canine) prostate samples of which we have taken preliminary images. These were used as an indication to further optimise our method for prostate imaging, and more scans will be performed later in the year on some of the samples brought by Montgomery (which were fixed). Montgomery is also planning to send more samples should that be unsatisfactory. Moreover Dr. Wesolowski has co-written a successful application for a travel grant and we are using the time while Wesolowski is here to co-develop a new approach sensitive to phase in two directions. Wesolowski is currentlly taking part in the data acquisition and will perform image analysis and co-write the papers once he returns to Saskatoon. |
Impact | So far the main output is the successful travel grant; however we would expect at least 2 papers, hopefully 3, to follow in the early months of 2015. This collaboration is at the interface between physics and medicine, with elements of engineering and biology. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | University of Washington in St Louis |
Organisation | Columbia University |
Department | Department of Biomedical Engineering |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Introduction to our method, datasets to reconstruct, instructions on how to reconstruct them |
Collaborator Contribution | development of optimised reconstruction methods for our imaging approaches |
Impact | several papers published |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | University of Western Australia |
Organisation | University of Western Australia |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | A researcher at UWA is a world expert and has a keen interest in phase contrast imaging. We have made data available for him and discussed a number of new applications and opportunities. I have also helped him write a series of grant applications (primarily fellowships) three of which were successful. |
Collaborator Contribution | He analysed data, provided calculations and software, wrote and co-wrote papers. |
Impact | We have published 13 joint papers and co-wrote 3 successful fellowship applications, the last one of which is a prestigious Royal Society Research Fellowship which will allow our collaborator to come to work at UCL for 5 years. While the methods developed are typically within the physics/engineering remit, pursued applications so far are in medicine, biology, security, material science etc so the research is interdisciplinary. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | XCounter |
Organisation | Direct Conversion AB |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We have demonstrated new ways to use XCounter detectors in new imaging solutions |
Collaborator Contribution | They have loaned us detectors, taught them how to use them, modified the acquisition software to fit our needs |
Impact | The main output is the optimised inclusion of an XCounter detector in a precommercial prototype, but we are developing plans for further interaction. It is interdisciplinary: physics/engineering/image reconstruction/crime science. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Title | COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING |
Description | A computed tomography method seeking higher resolutions without imposing a dose increase is described. A mask (10) forms a plurality of X-ray beam lets (14) which are passed through a subject (6), and images are captured on X-ray detector (8). The subject (6) is moved with respect to the X-ray detector and mask, including a rotation around a y axis, and a computed tomography image is reconstructed from the plurality of measured datapoints. The beam lets (14) are of small size. Figures 4-8 are blurred, figures 10, 11 and 16b contain too small letters/numbers. |
IP Reference | WO2020120705 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | See other sections for wider impact of cycloidal CT innovation - a partial list of media outlet which have reported it is appended here. We are currently in negotiations with several companies wrt licensing agreements. https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.1.20200730a/full/ https://physicsworld.com/a/cycloidal-ct-boosts-image-quality-while-reducing-radiation-dose/ https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200724/Novel-CT-scan-method-reduces-radiation-exposure.aspx https://www. |
Description | "Practical x-ray phase contrast imaging", KTN workshop on Advanced Sensing for Biosciences and Healthcare, Ambassador Hotel, London, 16 Mar 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I vas invited to speak at one of the regular events the Knowledge Transfer Network organises to connect researchers, industry and policymakers. This created a series of new contacts and requests for clarification/engagement. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | A talk or presentation - Lecture and detailed discussion on prospective use of technology in new areas of application with interested 3rd party (Boeing) through their "Distinguished Research and Scholar Seminar Series" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Engagement with new industrial actor |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | An incoherent implementation of x-ray phase contrast imaging and tomography that maintains high sensitivity at low delivered doses WCMPE Toronto |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Dissemination to wide and multi-faceted audience of our latest results |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Can the use of x-rays be transformed 120 years after their discovery? X-ray phase contrast imaging and its translation towards clinical and other applications, Medical Image Computing Summer School (MedICSS 2016) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Series of opportunities from new technologies presented to imaging scieintists of the future |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Conventional vs. phase-based x-ray imaging: where does the transformative potential of the latter come from, and can we exploit it in clinical applications? Medical Image Computing Summer School (MedICSS 2015) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Series of opportunities from new technologies presented to imaging scieintists of the future |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Edge-illumination XPCi: an intrinsically incoherent phase contrast method, Coherent and incoherent x-ray imaging and tomography, EU "COST" Actions, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy, May 14-16 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | This is a EU wide action aimed at streamlining x-ray imaging activities and methods, especially related to phase including in 3D Our group is becoming a key player in this EU consortium, which is leading to regular invitations at related events and a number of new collaboration opportunities emerging as a consequence. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Focus story on APS Physics "3D Images 10 Times Faster" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | One of our recent research results was picked up as a highlight by the widely read APS "News and Commentary" Website |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://physics.aps.org/articles/v10/48 |
Description | Invited experimental visit and seminar (as part of their "Physics/Theory Colloquium Series") at the Los Alamos National Labs (New Mexico, USA) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Los Alamos National Labs have identified our technology as possibly key to their future studies, and have invited myself and Dr Marco Endrizzi over to hold estensive discussions, run a joint experiment, and deliver a joint lecture to a wider audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited lecture and extended discussion with new sensor startup in Barcelona ("IMASENIC") |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | IMASENIC is a promising new sensor company developing detectors which could be a match both to our technology and our recently awarded "prosperity partnership" with Nikon. This event enabled us to plan the first steps towards a more extended collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Invited lecture at KTN event ("Translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging into real-world applications") |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | presenation of options provided by our new technology at Knowledge Transfer Network event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited lecture at the official launch of Direct Conversion AIC, Munich, Germany, Jul 5-6 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This invitation confirms Direct Conversion's esteem and desire to collaborate with us. They have previously provided us with novel detector technology, notably for our security inspection activities, and have offered access to additional detection technology to pursue more applications and expand/strengthen our collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited presentation at the 2019 edition of the "Medical Imaging Convention", Birmingham Mar 26-27 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This is the largest Medical Imaging Convention in the UK and the purpose was to reach out to a wide audience of medical practitioners to make them aware of our technology, its potential and its applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.imagingconvention.com |
Description | Lecture and discussion with prospective users of the National Research Facility on X-Ray CT |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | An opportunity to explain prospective users of the National Research Facility on X-Ray CT that different ways to do x-ray imaging exist, and what advantages/additional application they could access by using them. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Making the invisible visible - x-ray phase contrast imaging (Oxford) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | invited seminar for graduate and postgraduate students attended by industry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Multi-modal phase-based x-ray imaging: detecting the undetectable, John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, University of Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Again an opportunity to engage studnets and a different audience, including laying down plans to combine our imaging methods with new x-ray sources |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Organisation of a stand at the "Made@UCL" open day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We set up a stand with several displays and props to explain why our research is revolutionising x-rays 124 years after their discovery, and to present the applications of our technology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Origins, development and current state-of-the-art of edge-illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging, MART-3D: Advanced summer school on reconstruction methods in tomography, Carcans, Bordeaux, France Sept 12-16 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Series of opportunities from new technologies presented to both practising imaging scientists and imaging scientists of the future, from across a wide range of countries and application areas, with a particular interest in computed tomography |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Phase contrast imaging and tomography with hard x-rays - prospective applications to various areas including electrochemical devices, STFC Global Challenge Network in Batteries and Electrochemical Energy Devices |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | An opportunity to reach out to a completely different audience hopefully opening new prospectives for application |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Portable x-ray phase contrast tomography (a.k.a. "incoherent approaches to x-ray phase contrast imaging with conventional x-ray sources"), Varenna |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presentation to difference audience e.g. users of neutron sources to spawn new areas of collaboration |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Presentation on "Multi-modal x-ray imaging" at the Academia-Government networking event on transport security, The Principal, Manchester, Nov 22 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This is an event organised by various Governmental Authorities to promote and enhance research on innovative technologies for transport security. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Press release on Cycloidal Computed Tomography |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | UCL issued a press release on our new method when this was published, and this has been rapidly picked up by a large number of outlets worldwide, including: https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.1.20200730a/full/ https://physicsworld.com/a/cycloidal-ct-boosts-image-quality-while-reducing-radiation-dose/ https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200724/Novel-CT-scan-method-reduces-radiation-exposure.aspx https://www.medimaging.net/general-imaging/articles/294783761/innovative-ct-scan-technique-reduces-radiation-exposure.html https://medicaldialogues.in/radiology/news/new-ct-scan-technique-may-help-lower-radiation-exposure-67943 https://www.wbmirror.com/2020/07/24/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure/ https://www.theimagingwire.com/2020/07/27/pocus-alternative-cv19-pxs-pain-change/ https://www.itnonline.com/content/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure https://www.diagnosticimaging.com/view/new-ct-method-could-lower-radiation-exposure https://www.auntminnieeurope.com/index.aspx?sec=ser?=def&pag=dis&ItemID=619072 https://www.healthimaging.com/topics/diagnostic-imaging/ct-slashes-radiation-retaining-image-quality?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=hi_diagnostic_imaging https://www.plexusmd.com/md/post/cycloidal-computed-tomography-a-novel/56502 http://colgatephys111.blogspot.com/2020/11/dr-charlotte-hagen.html https://www.mazree.com/article/the-most-innovative-medical-equipment-in-2020/74 https://qsstudy.com/technology/new-ct-scan-technique-reduces-radiation-exposure https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/52036 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/jul/new-ct-scan-method-lowers-radiation-exposure |
Description | Press release on our innovative method for intra-operative specimen imaging |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Our work on intra-operative specimen imaging was particuarly successful and UCL decided to run a press released when the first paper on this work was published. Although the work itself has been mostly funded by the Wellcome Trust, the seeds of the technology were developed through EPSRC funding, and its future directions are explored as part of our Prosperity Partnership with Nikon (which was also our partner in the Wellcome Trust grant). A partial list of media outlets which have run pieces on our technology includes: https://www.caperay.com/blog/index.php/2021/phase-contrast-imaging-and-breast-surgery/ https://www.diagnosticimaging.com/view/new-x-ray-scanner-could-reduce-repeat-breast-conserving-operations https://www.theengineer.co.uk/new-x-ray-scanner-could-improve-breast-cancer-surgery/ https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-02-advances-x-ray-imaging-patients-breast.html https://www.itnonline.com/content/advances-x-ray-imaging-can-help-patients-breast-cancer https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2021/02/x-ray-scanner-could-improve-breast-cancer-surgery/. https://www.theimagingwire.com/2021/02/22/ai-guided-milestone-watson-options-the-unmatched/ https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/ucl-aix021721.php https://scienmag.com/advances-in-x-ray-imaging-can-help-patients-with-breast-cancer/ https://infosurhoy.com/health/advances-in-x-ray-imaging-can-help-patients-with-breast-cancer.html |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/feb/advances-x-ray-imaging-can-help-patients-breast-cancer |
Description | Public lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was part of the "UCL Minds Lunch Hour Lectures" series, aimed at presenting key UCL research to the general public |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/events/events/2019/oct/detecting-undetectable-transforming-use-x-rays-124-year... |
Description | Removing the roadblocks to clinical translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging using the edge-illumination method, Mini-symposium on "Frontiers in Phase Contrast X-ray imaging for Biomedical Application |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | initial plans for roadmap for translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Seeing invisible things with X-Rays, "Alumnorum Colloquia" series, Department of Physics, University of Trieste |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Directly aimed at inspiring undergrad students at my univerity of origin |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Seminar ("Current state-of-the-art and applications of edge-illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging") followed by discussion at the Nikon, Yokohama Plant, Yokohama city, Kanagawa, Japan Oct 25 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | While in recent year we have been mostly engaging with the UK branch of Nikon, it is important to involve the Japanese Headquarters in view of future activity scale up - this seminar/discussion has achieved exactly that. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Talk at "Tomography for Scientific Advancement" (ToScA2016), Bath, UK, Sept 6-7 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This is an event aimed at a wide audience which includes museums and many actors from the cultural heritage sector. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Towards the clinical translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging - UKRC 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Reaching out to radiologists and radiographers to raise awareness on new technological opportunities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Towards the translation of x-ray phase contrast imaging into clinical applications, IPEM |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation of new imaging modality to medical physicists with an eye on future clinical use |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | UCL Physics and Engineering in Medicine Podcast "How to advance x-ray imaging, seeing the unseen" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | A blog explaining teh developed technology and its applications in lay terms |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://soundcloud.com/user-857709813/5-how-to-advance-x-ray-imaging-seeing-the-unseen |
Description | X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) for small animal CT based on edge-illumination/coded aperture, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, Aug 4 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a talk delivered by one of our key collaborators, Cha-Mei Tang CEO of Creatv Microtech, to a key cancer lab in the US to broker a new collaboration which we expect could be very productive. New important collaboration created and joint NIH grant application submitted. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | XPCI: X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging, X-rays, a tool for science and technology: interaction with matter, detection techniques, applications. Politecnico di Milano, Italy, Feb 20-21 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | This was part of a series of events for the Doctoral School of the Milan Polytechnic, which was also attended by some undergrads and some industrialists - a unique chance to make practicing and future scientists aware of the wen technological options opened by our research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |