Sub voxel position identification in Cadmium Zinc Telluride detectors for Low Dose Molecular Breast Imaging (small pixel camera)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The funded knowledge exchange project seeks to develop an optimised Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) system for low dose molecular breast imaging (MBI). Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with 1 in 8 women developing the disease. Approximately 50% of women of screening age have mammographically dense breasts but conventional X-ray mammography has reduced diagnostic performance for these patients. This limitation can be overcome by using MBI, a technique in which a molecular tracer selectively targets malignant breast tissue to provide high-resolution functional images. Earlier diagnosis and more accurate staging of the disease using optimised MBI systems will potentially lead to better patient outcomes and reduced mortality rates. The proposed research will improve the imaging performance of MBI, which will increase the probability of detecting lesions in the breast. This will be based on exploiting our knowledge of how radiation interacts in the imaging system. The additional research to be undertaken with the requested equipment in this new call will be to explore the possibility of using the techniques to enhance imaging performance for medical applications such as diagnosis of Alzheimer's and cardiac disease.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Laura Joanne Harkness-Brennan (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | This capital grant was used to procure a small pixel camera that generated datasets for validation of developed algorithms and an investigation of their performance. |
| Exploitation Route | This is being discussed with a commercial partner. |
| Sectors | Electronics,Healthcare |
| Description | Digital Nuclear Measurement Training of Practitioners in the Nuclear Sector |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Delivered several training workshops for members of the nuclear sector to develop skills and knowledge relevant to Digital signal processing with radiation detectors. This included the participants logging in remotely to operate and acquire data with radiation detectors in Liverpool. There were also seminars aimed at developing knowledge and skills in this area as well as showcasing the research activities in several funded UKRI projects, relevant to the topic. |
| Title | Charge Signal Database for Small Pixel Camera |
| Description | Datasets have been produced for the CZT small pixel camera procured in this capital grant. These have been collected using collimated high activity gamma sources including 57Co and 137Cs. The databases show how the signals respond in groups of pixels for known gamma-ray interaction positions and are been used to achieve sub voxel position resolution in the detectors. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Used to improve the performance of the detectors and to evaluate sub-voxel position sensing algorithms for small pixel cameras |
| Title | Charge Trapping and Transport Model |
| Description | A model has been created that allows calculation of charge transport within semiconductor detectors, based upon pre-simulated potentials. The model implements probabilistic charge trapping, detrapping, and recombination based upon user defined values (drawn from literature). Use of the model allows correction for simulated databases to account trapping physics. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Model has been used to account for previously ignored physics in simulated charge-transport databses - allowing for accurate simulation of physical detector systems. This will be used to provide the basis of a publication, with the goal being public release of the model for research purposes. |
| Description | Early Career Engagement Event |
| 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 | Presented a talk and participated as a panelist at an early Career Event for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers at the Institute of Physics in London. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Medical applications seminar to undergraduate students at the University of Liverpool |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 29 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students attended a talk presenting the research topic covered by this grant (molecular breast imaging with CZT). Interest was expressed by a student in completing an MPhys research project on the topic in their next year of study and discussion was generated with students via email. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Mu2e Seminar at University of Warwick |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Online seminar with particle physics researchers and PhD students from the University of Warwick to describe the Mu2e experiment from a nuclear physics perspective. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | STFC Cancer Diagnosis Challenge Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | STFC Challenge workshop 1 took place on campus in Leicester on Monday 20th January 2020. The event focused on 'Precision and Quantitative Imaging'. It was a great success with over 50 delegates attending from academic, clinical and industrial backgrounds. IOP Award winning Dr Dimitra Darambara chaired the day, introducing the four distinguished speakers; Prof Phil Allport, Dr Malene Fischer, Prof Nigel Allison and Dr Calum Williams. Network opportunities were also built into the day, with the group being divided up into smaller groups to start new techonology conversations and help establish new collabortions going forward. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://sites.google.com/view/stfccancerdiagnosis/home/workshops |
| Description | STFC Cancer Diagnostic Network+ Virtual Challenge Workshop - Early Diagnosis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The event focused on the theme of 'Early Diagnosis'. It was a half-day session, that included thought provoking speakers, a question and answer session, facilitated breakout rooms and an opportunity to engage with key industrial exhibitors. The event was Chaired by our CDN+ 'Early Diagnosis' theme lead Prof Nandita de Souza, with Co-Chair Prof John Lees. There was a funding call announcement for CDN+ Proof of Concept and Scoping Studies opened at the event. The event will helped establish further multidisciplinary collaborations between academic, clinicians and industry members to work together and address clinical challenges in the diagnosis of cancer. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://sites.google.com/view/stfccancerdiagnosis/home/workshops |
| Description | School Visit (Ballycastle) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 50 pupils attended a seminar delivered at Cross and Passion School, Ballycastle. After the seminar, emails were received from teachers and parents of pupils who attended. The school also posted on social media about the seminar. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Talk at Liverpool Cancer Research Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 80 people attended a talk at the Liverpool Cancer Research Institute Symposium, including patient groups and Clinicians. Several follow up discussions, including around patient involvement in ongoing research projects and increased awareness of technical innovations to Clinicians. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |