THE PROBLEM

• Prototype hardware platform for acquiring the SACBCT images completed

• However, there is no software for image correction, dewarping and reconstruction for novel small-animal cone beam CT system

THE SOLUTION

Build Java software to simplify the operation of the platform• Image intensity correction• Characterize variation in X-ray attenuation• Reconstruction of 2D projection images into volumetric

representation using the Feldkamp algorithm

• Output volumetric rendering in standard DICOM format for future use.

• UI for display and manipulation of 2D and 3D images:

THE IMPACT• Currently, experimental image guided radiotherapy and

conformal beam therapy techniques are performed on human subjects

• The small animal radiotherapy research platform (SARRP) allows novel techniques to be validated and studied on the standard animal oncological models (Harvard OncoMouse and similar) in a convenient bench top environment

• This research is expected to speed the availability of novel therapies, and provide rigorous validation of procedures in pre-clinical trials

Engineering Research Center for Computer Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology

Figure 1: (a) Helical CT scan.

(b) Cone beam CT for human

(c) the system for the small animal cone beam CT

THE FUTURE• On-line, near real-time data acquisition and processing• Integrated calibration routines• Conversion to flat-panel detector with mechanical

shutter from direct-imaged phosphor system• In-situ imaging and image-guided conformal beam

therapy

PEOPLE INVOLVED• Mentors: Dr. John Wong, PhD, Dr. Todd McNutt, PhD

and Dr. Eric Ford, PhD (Department of Radiology oncology)

• Team Members: Owen Gray, Sungjun Kim and Pinak Pujari (Computer Science graduate students)

SUPPORTED BY:• NIH R01 project (Principle investigator Dr. John Wong,

Rad. Onc., JHMI),

(b)

SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The small animal cone beam CT (SACBCT) system is a component of a prototype image guided small animal radiation therapy research platform.

When completed, the system will provide a means of testing novel image guided radiation therapy techniques on standard laboratory oncological models (OncoMouse etc.) to characterize dose response of tumors in a preclinical laboratory setting.

LESSONS LEARNED

• Working in group is not easy. (schedule conflict and different technical background.)

• Satisfying customer’s needs not like just doing homework assignments.

Figure 2: Experimental lab set up

Figure 3: Screen Shots

Small Animal Cone beam CT Class project for 600.446, Advanced Computer-Integrated Surgery, Spring 2006

10cm

3cmX-Ray Tube Camera Box

(a)

(c)