Medical
Imaging Instrumentation
BER's Medical Imaging Instrumentation program supports research projects to provide accurate and clear images of biochemical activities by developing sensitive detectors and scanning equipment and advanced data-acquisition and image-processing methods.
Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation
Special imaging systems called positron
emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
scanners produce three-dimensional images. In SPECT, a gantry rotates one or more
detectors around the body to acquire many image projections. PET scanners usually
surround the body with a stationary ring of detectors. PET and SPECT were first
conceived by BER scientists in the 1950s.
PET and SPECT are used to study blood flow and metabolic activity in body organs. Images may show nervous system abnormalities, cancers, or other damaged tissue.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Instrumentation
MRI distinguishes harmful tissue (such as tumors or stroke damage) from normal tissue by creating 2- or 3-D images using magnetic fields and nonionizing radiation. These images can be developed with a variety of orientations and contrasts for better detection of abnormal tissue. The technique is also known as magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
September
2007 Nuclear Medicine Workshop Report
See also:
Current Projects
A Light-Sharing Approach to High Resolution 3-D Gamma-Ray Detection for Positron Emission Tomography
Principal Investigator: Paul Vaska
Institution: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Project Term: 10/01/2006 to 9/30/2007
High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Principal Investigator: David Schlyer
Institution: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Project Term: 10/01/2004 to 9/30/2007
Molecular Imaging in Neuroscience
Principal Investigator: Gene-Jack Wang
Institution: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Project Term: 10/01/2004 to 9/30/2007
