Attenuation correction for dedicated breast PET using only emission data based on consistency conditions

Accurate attenuation correction is required in dedicated breast PET imaging systems for image artifact removal and quantitative studies. In this study, a method using only emission data based on consistency conditions is proposed for attenuation correction in breast PET imaging systems. The consistency conditions are exploited to evaluate the accuracy of the estimated attenuation distribution and find the appropriate parameters that yield the most consistent attenuation distribution with the measured emission data. We have proved the validity of the method with experimental investigations and single-patient studies using a dedicated breast PET. The results show that the method is capable of accurately estimating the attenuation distribution of a uniform attenuator from the experimental data with various relatively low activities. The results also show that in single-patient studies, the method is robust for the irregular boundary of breast tissue and provides a distinct improvement in image quality.     

Ce3+在Ba2ZnB2O6中的晶体学格位及其发光性能研究

通过高温固相法合成了Ba2ZnB2O6∶Ce3+蓝色荧光粉.通过XRD、Rietveld结构精修、激发和发射光谱、荧光衰减曲线以及变温荧光光谱等,对荧光粉的晶体结构和发光性能进行了研究.结果表明:Ce3+的掺入并未对基质的晶格结构产生影响,在350 nm近紫外光激发下,Ba2ZnB2O6∶xCe3+的发射峰为位于430 nm的不对称的宽谱,最佳掺杂浓度为x=0.01,Ce3+在Ba2ZnB2O6晶格中占据Bal和Ba3两种格位,随掺杂浓度升高更倾向于占据Ba3位.Ce3+的择优占位使荧光粉的发光由蓝光向蓝绿色区域发生了明显的漂移.     

Geometric calibration for a SPECT system dedicated to breast imaging

Geometric calibration is critical to the accurate SPECT reconstruction. In this paper, a geometric calibration method was developed for a dedicated breast SPECT system with a tilted parallel beam (TPB) orbit. The acquisition geometry of the breast SPECT was firstly characterized. And then its projection model was established based on the acquisition geometry. Finally, the calibration results were obtained using a nonlinear optimization method that fitted the measured projections to the model. Monte Carlo data of the breast SPECT were used to verify the calibration method. Simulation results showed that the geometric parameters with reasonable accuracy could be obtained by the proposed method.     

A generalized method of converting CT image to PET linear attenuation coefficient distribution in PET/CT imaging

The accuracy of attenuation correction in positron emission tomography scanners depends mainly on deriving the reliable 511-keV linear attenuation coefficient distribution in the scanned objects. In the PET/CT system, the linear attenu- ation distribution is usually obtained from the intensities of the CT image. However, the intensities of the CT image relate to the attenuation of photons in an energy range of 40 keV-140 keV. Before implementing PET attenuation correction, the intensities of CT images must be transformed into the PET 511-keV linear attenuation coefficients. However, the CT scan parameters can affect the effective energy of CT X-ray photons and thus affect the intensities of the CT image. Therefore, for PET/CT attenuation correction, it is crucial to determine the conversion curve with a given set of CT scan parameters and convert the CT image into a PET linear attenuation coefficient distribution. A generalized method is proposed for con- verting a CT image into a PET linear attenuation coefficient distribution. Instead of some parameter-dependent phantom calibration experiments, the conversion curve is calculated directly by employing the consistency conditions to yield the most consistent attenuation map with the measured PET data. The method is evaluated with phantom experiments and small animal experiments. In phantom studies, the estimated conversion curve fits the true attenuation coefficients accurately, and accurate PET attenuation maps are obtained by the estimated conversion curves and provide nearly the same correction results as the true attenuation map. In small animal studies, a more complicated attenuation distribution of the mouse is obtained successfully to remove the attenuation artifact and improve the PET image contrast efficiently.     

Coherent spin dynamics in spin-imbalanced ferromagnetic spinor condensates

We study the coherent spin dynamics of a ferromagnetic spinor Bose–Einstein condensate(BEC)in its domain formation process with an arbitrary spin configuration.Through a simplified schematic view of the domain structure,a semiclassical theory that captures the essential dynamics of the system is presented,and the coherent spin mixing dynamics can be understood in terms of oscillation in the phase space diagram.Using the phase diagram analysis method,we identify new phases,including theπphase oscillation and the running phase for the spin-imbalanced ferromagnetic spinor BEC.