Electron beam computed tomography

Last updated
Electron beam computed tomography
US patent 4672649 Fig 2.png
Patent illustration showing a cutaway view of an electron beam computerized tomography system. Components are 22. electron gun, 23. electron beam, 24. focus coil, 27. beam bending coil, 28-31. target rings, 14. detector array, 11. scan tube. The electron beam creates x-rays at the target rings, which radiates through the patient to the detector on the opposite end of the scan tube.
MeSH D014057
OPS-301 code 3-26

Electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) is a specific form of computed tomography (CT) in which the X-ray tube is not mechanically spun in order to rotate the source of X-ray photons. This different design was explicitly developed to better image heart structures that never stop moving, performing a complete cycle of movement with each heartbeat.

Contents

As in conventional CT technology, the X-ray source-point moves along a circle in space around an object to be imaged. In EBCT, the X-ray tube itself is large and stationary, and partially surrounds the imaging circle. Rather than moving the tube itself, electron-beam focal point (and hence the X-ray source point) is swept electronically along a tungsten anode in the tube, tracing a large circular arc on its inner surface. This motion can be very fast.

Advantages and disadvantages

The principal application advantage of EBT machines, and the reason for the invention, is that because the X-ray source-point is swept electronically, not mechanically, it can be swept with far greater speed.

The major medical application for which this design technology was invented in the 1980s was for imaging the human heart, specifically to detect coronary calcium. [1] The heart never stops moving, and some important structures, such as arteries, move several times their diameter during each heartbeat. Rapid imaging is therefore important to prevent blurring of moving structures during the scan. EBT detection of calcium deposits is accurate, fast and involves lower exposure to ionising radiation than conventional CT. [2] [3] Patients are exposed to radiation for a shorter period as it is faster in creating multiple images of the heart. The most advanced current commercial designs can perform image sweeps in as little as 0.025 seconds. By comparison, the fastest mechanically swept X-ray tube designs require about 0.25 seconds to perform an image sweep. [4] For reference, current coronary artery angiography imaging is usually performed at 30 frames/second or 0.033 seconds/frame; EBT is far closer to this than mechanically swept CT machines.

Signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution are also worse compared to conventional CT. [3]

Design specifics

As in standard X-ray tubes, part of the electron current energy when hitting the tungsten target is converted into photons. However, instead of spinning a small target anode in order to dissipate waste heat, the electron current focus spot is swept along a large stationary target anode. [5]

The electron current sweep is aimed using wound copper coil magnetic deflection yokes, as in a cathode ray tube (CRT). However, the entire structure of the cathode, deflection yokes, anode and overall vacuum tube size is much larger, therefore made out of steel, not glass, with the main central open midsection of the vacuum tube hollow, leaving room for the scan table and object or person to lie while the scan is performed.

Future

Whether the inherent sweep-speed advantage will maintain commercial viability of the EBT design remains unclear at this time. As of 2002, one major company owns and offers models in both competing designs, with engineering cross-pollination of techniques between the product design teams. As of 2005, it increasingly appears that the spiral CT designs, especially those with 64 detector rows, 3×360°/sec rotation speeds, and designed for cardiac imaging, are largely replacing the EBT design from a commercial and medical perspective. However, EBT still offers sweep speeds of effectively 50×360°/sec rotation speeds and lower radiation exposure. The latest version of the EBT eSpeed offers a 33 ms sweep time.

This technology continues to represent the fastest commercial CT temporal resolution.

Since 2008, a single development company has taken the lead on continued development, support and sales of EBT imaging products. The EBT scanner continues to stay in use globally due to the high accuracy, superior repeatability and ultra low dose abilities over high dose mechanical scanners.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vacuum tube</span> Device that controls current between electrodes

A vacuum tube, electron tube, valve, or tube, is a device that controls electric current flow in a high vacuum between electrodes to which an electric potential difference has been applied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X-ray</span> Form of short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation

X-ray is a high-energy electromagnetic radiation. In many languages, it is referred to as Röntgen radiation, after the German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, who discovered it in 1895 and named it X-radiation to signify an unknown type of radiation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CT scan</span> Medical imaging procedure using X-rays to produce cross-sectional images

A computed tomography scan is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers or radiology technologists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radiography</span> Imaging technique using ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

Radiography is an imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation to view the internal form of an object. Applications of radiography include medical and industrial radiography. Similar techniques are used in airport security,. To create an image in conventional radiography, a beam of X-rays is produced by an X-ray generator and it is projected towards the object. A certain amount of the X-rays or other radiation are absorbed by the object, dependent on the object's density and structural composition. The X-rays that pass through the object are captured behind the object by a detector. The generation of flat two-dimensional images by this technique is called projectional radiography. In computed tomography, an X-ray source and its associated detectors rotate around the subject, which itself moves through the conical X-ray beam produced. Any given point within the subject is crossed from many directions by many different beams at different times. Information regarding the attenuation of these beams is collated and subjected to computation to generate two-dimensional images on three planes which can be further processed to produce a three-dimensional image.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X-ray machine</span> Machine that generates X-rays

An X-ray machine is a device that uses X-rays for a variety of applications including medicine, X-ray fluorescence, electronic assembly inspection, and measurement of material thickness in manufacturing operations. In medical applications, X-ray machines are used by radiographers to acquire x-ray images of the internal structures of living organisms, and also in sterilization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single-photon emission computed tomography</span> Nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique

Single-photon emission computed tomography is a nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique using gamma rays. It is very similar to conventional nuclear medicine planar imaging using a gamma camera, but is able to provide true 3D information. This information is typically presented as cross-sectional slices through the patient, but can be freely reformatted or manipulated as required.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomography</span> Imaging by sections or sectioning using a penetrative wave

Tomography is imaging by sections or sectioning that uses any kind of penetrating wave. The method is used in radiology, archaeology, biology, atmospheric science, geophysics, oceanography, plasma physics, materials science, cosmochemistry, astrophysics, quantum information, and other areas of science. The word tomography is derived from Ancient Greek τόμος tomos, "slice, section" and γράφω graphō, "to write" or, in this context as well, "to describe." A device used in tomography is called a tomograph, while the image produced is a tomogram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X-ray microscope</span> Type of microscope that uses X-rays

An X-ray microscope uses electromagnetic radiation in the X-ray band to produce magnified images of objects. Since X-rays penetrate most objects, there is no need to specially prepare them for X-ray microscopy observations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X-ray tube</span> Vacuum tube that converts electrical input power into X-rays

An X-ray tube is a vacuum tube that converts electrical input power into X-rays. The availability of this controllable source of X-rays created the field of radiography, the imaging of partly opaque objects with penetrating radiation. In contrast to other sources of ionizing radiation, X-rays are only produced as long as the X-ray tube is energized. X-ray tubes are also used in CT scanners, airport luggage scanners, X-ray crystallography, material and structure analysis, and for industrial inspection.

Technicare, formerly known as Ohio Nuclear, made CT, DR and MRI scanners and other medical imaging equipment. Its headquarters was in Solon, Ohio. Originally an independent company which became publicly traded, it was later purchased by Johnson & Johnson. At the time, Invacare was also owned by Technicare. A Harvard Business Case was written about the challenges that precipitated the transition. The company did not do well under Johnson & Johnson and in 1986, under economic pressure following unrelated losses from two Tylenol product tampering cases, J&J folded the company, selling the intellectual property and profitable service business to General Electric, a competitor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Industrial radiography</span> Type of non-destructive testing

Industrial radiography is a modality of non-destructive testing that uses ionizing radiation to inspect materials and components with the objective of locating and quantifying defects and degradation in material properties that would lead to the failure of engineering structures. It plays an important role in the science and technology needed to ensure product quality and reliability. In Australia, industrial radiographic non-destructive testing is colloquially referred to as "bombing" a component with a "bomb".

A coronary CT calcium scan is a computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart for the assessment of severity of coronary artery disease. Specifically, it looks for calcium deposits in atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries that can narrow arteries and increase the risk of heart attack. These plaques are the cause of most heart attacks, and become calcified as they develop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Industrial computed tomography</span> Computer-aided tomographic process

Industrial computed tomography (CT) scanning is any computer-aided tomographic process, usually X-ray computed tomography, that uses irradiation to produce three-dimensional internal and external representations of a scanned object. Industrial CT scanning has been used in many areas of industry for internal inspection of components. Some of the key uses for industrial CT scanning have been flaw detection, failure analysis, metrology, assembly analysis and reverse engineering applications. Just as in medical imaging, industrial imaging includes both nontomographic radiography and computed tomographic radiography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cone beam computed tomography</span> Medical imaging technique

Cone beam computed tomography is a medical imaging technique consisting of X-ray computed tomography where the X-rays are divergent, forming a cone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coronary CT angiography</span> Use of computed tomography angiography to assess the coronary arteries of the heart

Coronary CT angiography is the use of computed tomography (CT) angiography to assess the coronary arteries of the heart. The patient receives an intravenous injection of radiocontrast and then the heart is scanned using a high speed CT scanner, allowing physicians to assess the extent of occlusion in the coronary arteries, usually in order to diagnose coronary artery disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiac imaging</span>

Cardiac imaging refers to minimally invasive imaging of the heart using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or nuclear medicine (NM) imaging with PET or SPECT. These cardiac techniques are otherwise referred to as echocardiography, Cardiac MRI, Cardiac CT, Cardiac PET and Cardiac SPECT including myocardial perfusion imaging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation of computed tomography</span>

X-ray computed tomography operates by using an X-ray generator that rotates around the object; X-ray detectors are positioned on the opposite side of the circle from the X-ray source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gantry (medical)</span> Radiation detector holder

In a medical facility, such as a hospital or clinic, a gantry holds radiation detectors and/or a radiation source used to diagnose or treat a patient's illness. Radiation sources may produce gamma radiation, x-rays, electromagnetic radiation, or magnetic fields depending on the purpose of the device.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of computed tomography</span> History of CT scanning technology

The history of X-ray computed tomography dates back to at least 1917 with the mathematical theory of the Radon transform In the early 1900s an Italian radiologist named Alessandro Vallebona invented tomography which used radiographic film to see a single slice of the body. It was not widely used until the 1930s, when Dr Bernard George Ziedses des Plantes developed a practical method for implementing the technique.

References

  1. Mittal, Tarun K.; Rubens, Michael B. (2006). "Computed Tomography Techniques and Principles. Part a. Electron Beam Computed Tomography". In Anagnostopoulos, Constantinos D.; Bax, Jeroen J.; Nihoyannopoulos, Petros; van der Wall, Ernst (eds.). Noninvasive Imaging of Myocardial Ischemia. New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 93. doi:10.1007/1-84628-156-3_6. ISBN   978-1-84628-027-6.
  2. Raggi, Paolo (January 2001). "Imaging of cardiovascular calcifications with electron beam tomography in hemodialysis patients". American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 37 (1): S62–S65. doi:10.1053/ajkd.2001.20745.
  3. 1 2 Peebles, C R (1 June 2003). "Non-invasive coronary imaging: computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging?". Heart. 89 (6): 591–594. doi:10.1136/heart.89.6.591. PMC   1767702 . PMID   12748207.
  4. "SOMATOM Force". Siemens. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  5. Hill, David G. (2005). "Electron Beam CT of the Heart". In Schoepf, U. Joseph (ed.). CT of the Heart. Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press. pp. 15–21. doi:10.1385/1-59259-818-8:015. ISBN   978-1-58829-303-9.