H. D. Zeman

Computed tomography using synchrotron radiation

Abstract X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a widely used method of obtaining cross sectional views of objects. The high intensity, natural collimation, monochromaticity and energy tunability of synchrotron X-ray sources could potentially be used to provide CT images of improved quality. The advantages of these systems would be that images could be produced more rapidly with better spatial resolution and reduced beam artifacts. In addition images, in some cases, could be acquired with elemental sensitivity. As a demonstration of the capability of such a system, CT images were obtained of four slices of an excised pig heart, in which the arteries and cardiac chambers were filled with an iodinated medium. Images were taken with incident X-rays tuned successively to energies just above and below the iodine K edge. Iodine specific images were obtained by logarithmically subtracting the low energy image data from the high energy data and then reconstructing the image. CT imaging using synchrotron radiation may become a convenient and non-destructive method of imaging samples difficult to study by other methods.

Synchrotron Radiation And Its Application To Digital Subtraction Angiography

The intense synchrotron radiation produced at electron storage rings provides a new source of X-rays highly suited to iodine K-edge digital subtraction angiography. The high intensity and small angular divergence permit the radiation to be monochromatized by Bragg diffraction and made available in beams of small vertical size, of arbitrary horizontal width, and of tunable energy. The use of such beams provides maximum sensitivity to intra-arterial iodine and virtually eliminates image contrast due to non-vascular body structures. The sensitivity of this method to iodine offers the prospect of visualizing arteries by peripheral venous injection.

The application of synchrotron radiation to non-invasive angiography☆

Abstract Synchrotron radiation provides a new source of X-rays highly-suited to iodine K-edge Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA). The use of such beams provides maximum sensitivity to intra-arterial iodine and virtually eliminates image contrast due to non-vascular body structures. The intensity of the beams permits short exposure times and allows images to be recorded, in line-scan fashion, in sharp focus despite arterial motions. The sensitivity of this method offers the prospect of visualizing arteries, and in particular the coronary arteries, by peripheral venous injection. The principles of DSA have been demonstrated using phantoms and excised animal hearts, and in vivo studies in animals have begun. The instrumentation developed for this purpose and the results obtained to date are summarized.

Transvenous coronary angiography using synchrotron radiation

X-ray-based angiography continues to be the standard method of assessing the severity and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis. The relative insensitivity of conventional X-ray imaging systems to iodine-containing contrast agents necessitates that the images be acquired with essentially undiluted contrast agent in the lumen of the vessels being studied. This, in turn, requires arterial catheterization and the insertion of the catheter tip in or near the ostia of the vessels and the direct injection of the contrast agent. The health risks and monetary costs of the procedure have limited its use to circumstances in which there is a high probability of the presence of severe disease. Despite these problems, coronary angiography has been employed in serial studies to evaluate the effects of drug therapy and diet on coronary atherosclerosis (1).

300-Element Silicon-Lithium Position-Sensitive Imaging Detector for Angiography

Silicon lithium-drifted [Si(Li)] detectors 150 mm long, 10 mm wide and 5 mm thick with 300 individual elements have been fabricated as imaging detectors for noninvasive studies of human coronary arteries using 33 keV x-rays from a synchrotron radiation beamline. This detector is an extension of earlier work on 30 mm long devices with initially 30 and later 60 elements. The detector fabrication details are discussed highlighting problems in uniform lithium-ion compensation. The device structure is examined and measurements on the interelement impedances presented. Finally an angiograph of the coronary arteries in an excised pigs heart obtained with this 300-element detector is presented.

The angiography program at Stanford

Abstract A program is underway at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory to evaluate at minimally invasive method of visualizing the coronary arteries in man using synchrotron radiation. The design of an X-ray imaging system to accomodate a newly-available X-ray beam 12.3 cm in width is described. The system performance as revealed with test images of phantoms and excised hearts is indicated, and the system components to be tested before clinical studies can begin are identified.

Evaluation of synchrotron X-rays for transvenous coronary angiography

Abstract This study is related to an evaluation of synchrotron radiation for the non-invasive assessment of coronary artery disease in humans. In vivo canine studies are reported for an imaging system developed for use with synchrotron X-ray beams. The probable configuration of an expanded system for pilot human subject studies is described.

A Multi-Element Silicon Detector for X-Ray Flux Measurements

A 30-element Si(Li) detector has been fabricated to measure the one-dimensional flux profile of 33 KeV x-rays from a synchrotron radiation beam. The device, which is fabricated from a single 39mm × 15mm silicon wafer, is a linear array of 0.9mm × 7mm elements with a 1mm center-to-center spacing. It is 5mm thick and when operated at room temperature has an average leakage current of 10 nA/element. The x-ray flux in each element is determined by measuring the current with a high quality operational amplifier followed by a current digitizer. This detector is being used to study the use of synchrotron radiation for non-invasive imaging of coronary arteries. The experiment uses the difference in the transmitted flux of a monochromatized x-ray beam above and below the iodine K-edge. Measurements have been made on plastic phantoms and on excised animal hearts with iodinated arteries. The images obtained indicate that a 256-element device with similar properties, but with 0.6mm element spacing, will make a very effective detector for high-speed medical imaging.

Veiling glare of a linear multichannel Si(Li) detector

The effective veiling glare has been measured in a linear, 64 element Si(Li) detector of 5 mm thickness and 0.5 mm center-to-center spacing between adjacent sensitive areas. Each elemental contact was 6 mm high and 0.4 mm wide. The measurement was made in two different ways, both employing a 33 keV beam of synchrotron x-rays at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. In one method, a lead phantom in the shape of an isosceles triangle was illuminated across its width with a fan beam of 33 keV x-rays 0.5 mm high by 20 mm wide. The x-ray flux passing by the phantom was measured in each channel of the Si(Li) detector. In the second method, a highly collimated beam of 33 keV x-rays (0.5 mm high by 0.025 mm wide) was scanned across 15 channels of the detector in 0.01 mm steps. The measured intensity in each channel of the detector was recorded at each position of the beam. The photon flux fell to less than 0.1% at a distance of 3 mm from the edge of the beam. The results of both measurements were in agreement. They were also compared to calculated results based on the known total x-ray cross sections for Compton scattering and photoelectric absorption. To within the experimental error, the observed and calculated results were found to be in good agreement.

Transvenous coronary angiography in dogs using synchrotron radiation

SummaryThe application of coronary angiography is limited because it requires arterial invasion and the direct injection of contrast agent into the coronary arteries. A prototype system has been developed which achieves sufficient sensitivity to the iodinated contrast agent to allow the visualization of coronary arteries in dogs after its intravenous injection. The system uses two fan beams of x-rays from an electron storage ring and a 300 element linear silicon detector. Two interlaced images, spaced at 150 eV above and below the K absorption edge of iodine (33.2 keV), are acquired and the logarithmic subtraction of these two images produces an image which has maximal sensitivity to iodine and minimal sensitivity to soft tissue and bone. This approach appears suitable for studies on human subjects.