Future Applications of MI Flashcards
As we are reaching limits of medical imaging resolution. What other factors are currently being improved?
- Portability
- Speed
- Reduced dose/risk
- Cost
- Patient acceptability
- Functional Imaging
- Therapeutic Applications
For CT, what factors are being targeted for improvement
- Portability
- i.e. back of ambulance
- Dual Source
- Detector Configurations
- Post Processing Applications
- 3D fly through
What is the purpose of CT dual source?
- 2 x-ray tubes and source of detectors
- Bigger bank of detectors i.e. scan whole heart volume in one rotation
- Two energy levels- can differentiate between soft tissue and bone similar to DXA i.e. elbow blue, gout green instead of just white for both
what is the purpose of CT broncoscopy
Scope through bronchus
CT gives exact anatomical location when biopsies are taken

Purpose of the CT colonscopy
Real camera scope – can image constantly throughout the bowel

For MRI, what factors are being targeted?
- Open bore
- Upright (i.e. for spinal MRI)
- Portability
- Contrast Agents/New sequences
- Functional MRI
- Neonate MRI- portable and smaller = better quality
Purpose of fMRI
Vascular based.
Carry out function i.e. read, which would require more blood to the areas of the brain controlling those actions.

For NM, what is being improved?
- Fusion Imaging with CT/MRI
- Functional scan output i.e. bone metastases
- Combined with high anatomical resolution
- New radioisotopes
- Molecular Imaging
What are some interventional radiology technical advancements
- Interventional/Hybrid theatres
- Including C-Arm/Ceiling suspended for imaging during a procedure
- Stereotactic operating techniques
- Rotational Imaging
- Post Processing Applications
Purpose of CT O-Arm
Portable – cross-sectional, 360* around the patient
Spinal surgery = less invasive with this technology, as imaging instead of opening up the patient

For ultrasound, what is being targeted?
- Portability
- 4D imaging
- Microbubble technology

What are microbubbled (US)
- Therapeutic
- Small bubbles which create echoes/contrast
- Tag bubbles with receptor, which sticks to pathology of interest
- Treatment agent inside bubble- pop them and release medicine directly at the site of pathology

How are microbubbles being used in neurology
Ultrasonic frequency in brain
Bubbles can then cross or briefly open the blood/brain barrier

what would a portable brain scanner look for

Looking for increases in Hb- trauma/bleed
What is NIRS currently being used for
- Surgical grafting,
- Breast Imaging
- Tumour has own blood supply
- Research:
- sports science
- muscle deoxygenation in exercise
- peripheral vascular disease
- Neurovascular applications
- sports science
What is Raman Spectroscopy
Tissue shown spectrum on light- start to map tissue types within sample
Characterising tissue with how it interacts with light –> use whilst patient in the room with biopsy i.e. immediate results

what is a potential application of Thermography and Fluorescence
Open surgery to remove tumour- use fluorescing light to determine all the tumour is removed

What are gold nanoparticles used for
Gold Nanoparticles
- Can be tagged to a tumour targeting molecule.
- This will highlight tumour activity at a molecular level
- ? The beginning of molecular CT?

Role of robotics in cardiac surgery
- Operator still puts catheter into the artery
- But magnetic so robot moves it up to the coronary artery
- Then cauterize the damaged area
- Allows more precision

How do CAD (computer aided detection) or Artificial Intelligence advance MI
- Software add-ons aide human reporter with identification.
- Screen healthy population/known disease to teach the AI