Working with commercial participant Berthold Australia, CRCBID researchers from University of Melbourne have been developing customised imaging systems that use existing detector technology.

The non-invasive arterial monitoring (NIAM) system is a prototype device for monitoring the levels of PET isotopes in a patient’s wrist artery.  Conventionally, this monitoring requires an invasive procedure in which blood samples are taken so the isotopes’ concentration can be measured.  This causes discomfort for the patient, and can potentially affect recruitment of patients for clinical trials.

NIAM however allows the testing to be done without taking blood samples by setting up a detector camera similar to those used in small animal PET imaging systems.

The patient’s wrist rests in the detector, allowing the blood to be tested as it flows through the artery.  Image courtesy Graeme O’Keefe

“The NIAM’s data acquisition system is a key component of the system, and it has been undergoing further developments in recent months,” says Graeme O’Keefe from University of Melbourne.  “Its overall efficiency has been improved significantly,”

NIAM has been involved in comparative trials with existing invasive blood sampling systems and its results have been cross validated successfully.

“We’ve also been working on a new detector design for NIAM, which is close to being implemented.  It’s based on faster, more sensitive crystal for detecting radiation and solid state photomultipliers.  It promises to offer a further increase in sensitivity and spatial resolution.”

Preliminary results from NIAM were recently accepted for presentation at the Annual IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference held in Valencia, Spain, November, 2011.