Digital CZT Detectors Developed for Pre-clinical Imaging

New digital cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors for nuclear imaging applications have advantages over photomultiplier tube- (PMT)-based detectors, including that of increased sensitivity.

Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc. (GM-I; Oslo, Norway), a developer of digital medical imaging devices for the pre-clinical and clinical markets, has recently developed digital cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors for nuclear imaging. The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF; Oklahoma City, OK, USA) installed the detectors in a dual-modality single photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) configuration for pre-clinical imaging.

Dr. Rheal Towner, director of the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Facility for the Free Radical Biology & Aging Research Program at OMRF, reported that GM-I's digital CZT detectors offer strong advantages over photomultiplier tube (PMT)-based detectors. "Gamma Medica-Ideas' state-of-the-art digital CZT detectors allow OMRF to benefit from increased sensitivity, which traditional PMT-based detectors cannot provide,” said Dr. Towner.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation's main research efforts are grouped into three major areas: cancer research, neurologic disease research, and cardiovascular disease research. Gamma Medica-Ideas' Flex system currently installed in OMRF's Small Animal Imaging Facility is used principally to look at metastases in animal cancer models, study metastases in lungs and design molecular targeted agents.

"Digital detection systems for nuclear medicine will soon make analog photomultiplier tube-based systems obsolete in the same way that digital mobile phones replaced analog cellular and digital technology has taken over analog in every audio/video market. It's more efficient, more reliable, and vastly better technology. With digital technology everything is better--performance, maintenance, and upgrading,” said Gamma Medica-Ideas president and CEO, Dr. Bradley Patt.

Gamma Medica-Ideas' Flex pre-clinical system, recently upgraded to the Flex Triumph multi-modality pre-clinical platform, provides multiple configurations to meet user needs. It can combine up to three different imaging modalities (PET [positron emission tomography], SPECT, and CT) in a single platform. Major application areas include cardiology, neurology, oncology, and bone analysis.


Related Links:
Gamma Medica-Ideas
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation