A novel x-ray fluorescence imaging setup for the in vivo detection of high-Z tracer distributions is investigated for its application in molecular imaging. The setup uses an energy resolved detection method based on a Bragg reflecting analyzer array together with a multiple scatter reducing radial collimator. The aim of this work is to investigate the potential application of this imaging method to in vivo imaging in humans. A proof of principle experiment modeling a partial setup for the detection of gold nano-particles was conducted in order to test the feasibility of the proposed imaging method. Furthermore a Monte Carlo simulation of the complete setup was created in order to quantify the dependence of the image quality on the applied radiation dose and on the geometrical collimator parameters as well as on the analyzer crystal parameters. The Monte Carlo simulation quantifies the signal-to-noise ratio per radiation dose and its dependence on the collimator parameters. Thereby the parameters needed for a dose efficient in vivo imaging of gold nano-particle based tracer distributions are quantified. However also a number of problems are found like the fluorescence emission as well as scatter from the collimator material obscuring the tracer fluorescence and the potentially large scan time.

Date Published: 19 March 2014
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 9033, Medical Imaging 2014: Physics of Medical Imaging, 90331J (19 March 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2041948

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9033:
Medical Imaging 2014: Physics of Medical Imaging
Bruce R. Whiting; Christoph Hoeschen, Editor(s)