What’s Medical imaging?

Nuclear medical imaging (also called radionuclide scanning) is an effective diagnostic tool because it shows not only the anatomy (structure) of an organ or body part, but the function of the organ as well. This additional "functional information" allows nuclear medicine to diagnose certain diseases and various medical conditions much sooner than other medical imaging examinations which provide mainly anatomic (structural) information about an organ or body part. Nuclear medicine can be valuable in the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of numerous medical conditions and continues to grow as a powerful medical tool.

FOR MOST HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS that provide medical diagnostic imaging management which have been part of their daily life for general radiology modalities (i.e., CT, MR, X-ray, PET, SPECT, etc.). However, professionals in these institutions, from physicians, technologists, and administrators, to PACS/IT staff, have also been feeling the pain of not having proper PACS solutions for a range of different modalities. The most under-served modalities by PACS are the nuclear molecular imaging modalities, including PET-CT, SPECT-CT, nuclear cardiology, and general nuclear medicine.

Although nuclear molecular imaging is relatively small considering the number of exams performed per year, its importance is not to be underestimated, both clinically and financially. PET-CT has been proven to be the de facto modality when it comes to cancer diagnosis. Nuclear cardiology has been the modality of choice for noninvasive cardiology. General nuclear medicine provides many functional imaging applications that no other modalities can match. Financially, PET-CT and nuclear cardiology are still among the highest reimbursed procedures in diagnostic imaging.

What makes nuclear medical molecular imaging different from general radiology modalities is that the former images the functions of the body, while the latter images the anatomy of the body. This is why nuclear molecular imaging is sometimes also referred to as metabolic imaging. In order to analyze the functions of the body from the images acquired, special viewing and analyzing tools are required. These tools are exactly what are missing from the majority of the PACS today.

In this regards, More and more medical imaging technology company want to develop the newest generation PET, SPECT.   

 

What Kinheng can provide?

Why Choose Kinheng:

1.Minimal pixel dimension available

2.Reduced optical crosstalk

3.Good uniformity between pixel to pixel/ Array to array

4.TiO2/BaSO4/ESR/E60 reflectors available

5.Pixel Gap: 0.08, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3mm

6.Performance testing available

Materials' Properties Comparison:

Item name	CsI(Tl)	GAGG	CdWO4	LYSO	LSO	BGO	GOS(Pr/Tb) Ceramic
Density(g/cm3)	4.51	6.6	7.9	7.15	7.3~7.4	7.13	7.34
Hygroscopic	Slightly	No	No	No	No	No	No
Relative light output(% of NaI(Tl)) (for γ-rays)	45	158(HL)/ 132(BL)/79(FD)	32	65-75	75	15-20	71/ 118
Decay time(ns)	1000	150(HL)/ 90(BL)/748(FD)	14000	38-42	40	300	3000/ 600000
Afterglow@30ms	0.6-0.8%	0.1-0.2%	0.1-0.2%	N/A	N/A	0.1-0.2%	0.1-0.2%
Array type	Liner and 2D	Liner and 2D	Liner and 2D	2D	2D	2D	Liner and 2D

Mechanical design for assembling:

Based on the end use of assembled array, there are many kinds of mechanic design from Kinheng to meet the medical and security inspection industry.

1D Liner array are mainly used for Security inspection industy, such as Bagger scanner, Aviation scanner, 3D scanner and NDT. Material Including CsI(Tl), GOS:Tb/Pr Film, GAGG:Ce, CdWO4 scintillator etc. They are typically coupled with Silicon Photodiode line array for read out.

2D array are normally used for imaging, including Medical(SPECT, PET, PET-CT, ToF-PET), SEM, Gamma camera. These 2D array are typically coupled with SIPM array, PMT array for read out. Kinheng provide 2D array including LYSO, CsI(Tl), LSO, GAGG, YSO, CsI(Na), BGO scintillator etc.

Below is kinheng’s typically design drawing for 1D And 2D array for industry.

                                                             (Kinheng liner array)

                                                                 (Kinheng 2D array)

Typical Pixel size& numbers:

Material	Typical pixel size		Typical numbers
	Liner	2D	Liner	2D
CsI(Tl)	1.275x2.7	1x1mm	1x16	19x19
GAGG	1.275x2.7	0.5x0.5mm	1X16	8x8
CdWO4	1.275x2.7	3x3mm	1x16	8x8
LYSO/LSO/YSO	N/A	1X1mm	N/A	25x25
BGO	N/A	1x1mm	N/A	13X13
GOS(Tb/Pr) ceramic	1.275X2.7	1X1mm	1X16	19X19

Minimal size of Pixel:

Material	Minimal pixel size
	Liner	2D
CsI(Tl)	0.4mm pitch	0.5mm pitch
GAGG	0.4mm pitch	0.2mm
CdWO4	0.4mm pitch	1mm
LYSO/LSO/YSO	N/A	0.2mm
BGO	N/A	0.2mm
GOS(Tb/Pr) ceramic	0.4mm pitch	1mm pitch

Scintillation Array Reflector and Adhesive parameter :

Reflector	Thickness of Reflector+Adhesive
	Liner	2D
TiO2	0.1-1mm	0.1—1mm
BaSO4	0.1mm	0.1-0.5mm
ESR	N/A	0.08mm
E60	N/A	0.075mm

Application:

Item name	CsI(Tl)	GAGG	CdWO4	LYSO	LSO	BGO	GOS(Tb/Pr) Ceramic
PET, ToF-PET		Yes		Yes	Yes
SPECT	Yes	Yes
CT				Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
NDT	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bagger scanner	Yes	Yes	Yes
Container Checking	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gamma camera	Yes	Yes

Product shots: