CN103800076A - Structure-optics-nuclide multi-modal imaging system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a structure-optic-nuclide multimodal imaging system, which comprises: a supporting base, fixed on the ground, used to support a linear guide rail, a disc and a rotating platform; a rotating platform, equipped with a CT system and a fluorescent Imaging system; disc, installed with PET system; bracket, installed on the linear guide rail; platform for the object to be imaged, fixed on the bracket; CT system, used to collect images of the tomographic anatomical structure of the object to be imaged; fluorescence imaging system, used for The two-dimensional fluorescent image of the object to be imaged is collected; the PET system is used to collect the PET image of the object to be imaged; the computer receives the image and processes it to obtain a three-dimensional image of the object to be imaged. The invention also proposes a structure-optic-nuclide multimodal imaging method. The invention can be used in pre-clinical experiments to carry out structure-optical-nuclide fusion three-dimensional optical imaging on small animals waiting to be imaged.

Description

A structure-optical-nuclide multimodal imaging system and method

technical field

The invention relates to the technical field of optical molecular imaging, in particular to a structure-optical-nuclide multimodal imaging system and method.

Background technique

In recent years, with the rapid development of optical molecular imaging technology, some imaging technologies used in medicine, such as CT, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, radionuclide imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and PET/CT fusion Imaging technology plays an important role in life science and pre-clinical research. CT imaging has high resolution and no imaging depth limitation, and can provide anatomical structure information, but it cannot image soft tissues well. Fluorescence tomography (FMT) uses optical molecular probes to perform physiological and pathological detection on the target tissue of the probe, autofluorescence tomography (BLT) uses the fluorescence emitted by the organism itself for imaging, and Cerenkov tomography ( CLT) uses the Cherenkov light generated when the charged particles produced during the decay of radionuclides move faster than the speed of light in the medium, but these optical imaging method, the imaging depth is shallow and the resolution is low. PET imaging has good specificity and can provide functional metabolic information, but its sensitivity and resolution are low. How to integrate multiple imaging modalities and perform fusion imaging based on the information detected by each modality, so as to overcome the lack of physiological, pathological and structural information provided by a single modality, has always been a hot spot in the research of optical molecular imaging.

Many research institutions at home and abroad have integrated many mature single-mode systems, such as CT, PET, FMT and magnetic resonance (MRI), to obtain various information of the tested organism. Angelique A et al. used the FMT/CT fusion system to detect tumors in the neck and lungs of mice. The results showed that the results of FMT fused with CT information were more accurate. Li C et al. constructed an FMT/PET system and provided a system and method for FMT and PET dual-mode imaging. In addition, Nahrendorf M et al. used commercial PET/CT and FMT for in vivo imaging of mice, moved the animal compartment where the mice were placed, and performed imaging of each modality accordingly. In this system and imaging method, because the mouse needs to move, it will inevitably cause some changes in the posture and position of the mouse, which will affect the final imaging. At present, the systems of two modalities can achieve simultaneous imaging. However, most optical molecular imaging systems with three or more modalities image small animals in each modal system separately, and then image the images. fusion. The above multi-modal fusion imaging method makes the body position of the small animal waiting for the imaging object change during the movement process. Therefore, the acquired image needs to be corrected by an algorithm, which not only increases the time for reconstructing the image, but also makes it difficult to guarantee the quality of the reconstructed image.

Contents of the invention

In order to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention proposes a structure-optical-nuclide multimodal imaging system and method. The present invention uses the CT system, Fluorescence imaging system and PET imaging system are the basic equipment, with a multi-modal imaging method that integrates PET imaging on the same machine as the core. The image is reconstructed in 3D through the graphics processing card, so as to obtain the physiological and pathological 3D fusion image of the object to be imaged.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a structure-optic-nuclide multimodal imaging system is proposed, the system includes: a support base, a rotating platform, a CT system, a fluorescence imaging system, a PET system, a disk, a linear guide rail, a Object platforms, supports and computers, of which:

The support base is fixed on the ground;

The rotating platform is installed perpendicular to the ground at one end of the supporting base, and its rotation center is on the same horizontal line as the center of the object to be imaged. The CT system and the fluorescence imaging system are evenly distributed on the surface of the rotating platform. It is used to rotate according to the imaging requirements of CT system and fluorescence imaging system;

The CT system is connected to the computer through a CT dedicated data line, and is used to continuously collect the tomographic anatomical structure images of the object to be imaged during the rotation of the rotating platform, and transmit the collected tomographic anatomical structure images to the computer processing and storage;

The fluorescence imaging system is connected to the computer through a USB or serial interface data line, and is used to continuously detect the fluorescence signal in the body of the object to be imaged after the rotating platform rotates to a fixed angle and stops, to obtain a two-dimensional fluorescence image, and Transmitting the collected fluorescent images to the computer for processing and storage;

The disk is installed perpendicular to the ground in front of the rotating platform, its rotation center is at the same level as the center of the object to be imaged, and the PET system is installed on the surface of the disk;

The PET system is connected to the computer through a dedicated data line for the PET detector, and is used to continuously collect PET images of the object to be imaged when the disc is fixed and the PET detector forms a closed area, and the obtained PET image The image is transmitted to the computer for processing and storage;

The linear guide rail is installed on the upper surface of the support base, and the linear guide rail is provided with a communication control interface for connecting to the computer so as to move according to the control instructions of the computer;

The bracket is installed on the linear guide rail;

The platform for the object to be imaged is fixed on the bracket for placing the object to be imaged;

The computer is used to receive images sent by the CT system, fluorescence imaging system and PET system, store and process them, and finally obtain a three-dimensional image of the object to be imaged.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a kind of structure-optics-nuclide multimodal imaging method is proposed, the method comprises the following steps:

Step 1, the computer controls the linear guide rail to move the platform of the object to be imaged, moves the center of the object to be imaged to the center of the PET detector, starts PET imaging of the object to be imaged, obtains PET image data, and transmits the PET image data to stored in the computer;

Step 2, the computer controls the linear guide rail to move the platform of the object to be imaged, and moves the center of the object to be imaged to the center of the rotating platform. The fluorescence imaging system starts to work, the laser is turned on, and the laser light is irradiated on the object to be imaged. The CCD camera continuously Collecting fluorescent signals emitted from the body of the object to be imaged to obtain a two-dimensional fluorescent image, and transmitting the two-dimensional fluorescent image to the computer for storage;

Step 3: After the fluorescence imaging system collects a two-dimensional fluorescence image, the rotating platform starts to rotate, and at the same time, the CT system starts to continuously collect the tomographic anatomical structure images of the object to be imaged, and transmits the obtained tomographic anatomical structure image data to the Processing and storage in the above computer, the rotating platform stops after rotating 90°;

Step 4, repeating the image acquisition of the fluorescence imaging system and the CT system in the steps 2 and 3, until the rotating platform rotates 360° to complete the acquisition of all two-dimensional fluorescence images and tomographic anatomical structure images;

Step 5, the computer processes all obtained two-dimensional images, uses the two-dimensional images to reconstruct a three-dimensional image of the object to be imaged, and saves it.

During the entire imaging process, the small animal waiting for imaging is always fixed on the platform of the object to be imaged, and the three imaging modalities perform tomographic imaging at various angles of the object to be imaged, and finally the two-dimensional image is reconstructed in three dimensions through the graphics processing card. Images of two modalities can complement each other's advantages, overcome the shortcomings of a single modality, and improve image quality. Therefore, the present invention can be used for optical molecular imaging of co-fused PET in pre-clinical experiments of small animals waiting to be imaged.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the structural representation of structure-optics-nuclide multimodal imaging system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a flow chart of the structure-optical-nuclide multimodal imaging method of the present invention.

Detailed ways

In order to make the object, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be described in further detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural view of the optical multimodal imaging system of the present invention. As shown in Fig. Imaging object platform 9, support 10, linear guide rail 11, support base 12 and computer, wherein:

The support base 12 is fixed on the ground, on which the linear guide rail 11, the disc 7 and the rotating platform 1 are installed;

The rotating platform 1 is installed on one end of the support base 12 vertically to the ground, and its center of rotation is on the same horizontal line as the center of the object to be imaged. The CT system and fluorescent light are evenly distributed on the surface of the rotating platform 6 The imaging system is used to rotate according to the imaging requirements of the CT system and the fluorescence imaging system;

The disk 7 is installed perpendicular to the ground in front of the rotating platform 1, and its rotation center is at the same level as the center of the object to be imaged, and the PET system is installed on the surface of the disk 7;

The linear guide rail 11 is installed on the upper surface of the support base 12 for moving the support 10 mounted thereon; the linear guide rail 11 is provided with a communication control interface for connecting the computer to The control command sent by the above-mentioned computer is used to move;

The bracket 10 is installed on the linear guide rail 11;

The object to be imaged platform 9 is fixed on the support 10 for placing the object to be imaged;

The rotating platform 1 is equipped with: a CCD camera 2, a laser 5, an X-ray tube 4, an X-ray detector 3, and a plurality of linear translation stages 6, wherein:

The plurality of linear translation stages 6 are installed on the rotary platform 1 and arranged in an orthogonal manner for carrying the CT system and the fluorescence imaging system. The linear translation stage 6 is provided with a communication control interface connected to the computer, to move according to control instructions of said computer;

The CT system is connected to the computer through a dedicated CT data line, and is used to continuously collect the tomographic anatomical structure images of the object to be imaged during the rotation of the rotating platform 1, and transmit the collected tomographic anatomical structure images to the processing and saving in the computer;

The CT system includes an X-ray tube 4 and an X-ray detector 3, wherein the X-ray tube 4 is installed on the rotating platform 1 opposite to the X-ray detector 3, and the ray port of the X-ray tube 4, the The center of the object and the center of the X-ray detector 3 are on the same straight line to ensure the CT image quality;

The fluorescence imaging system is connected to the computer through a USB or serial interface data line, and is used to continuously detect the fluorescence signal in the body of the object to be imaged to obtain a two-dimensional fluorescence image after the rotating platform 1 rotates to a fixed angle and stops. and transmit the collected fluorescent images to the computer for processing and storage;

The fluorescence imaging system includes a laser 5 and a CCD camera 2, wherein the laser 5 and the CCD camera 2 are relatively installed on the rotating platform 1, and the imaging field of view of the CCD camera 2 needs to completely include the whole body of the object to be imaged, and the laser 5 emits The laser light is irradiated on the object to be imaged, and the body of the object to be imaged generates excited fluorescence. At this time, the CCD camera 2 continuously detects the fluorescence signal in the body of the object to be imaged, forms a two-dimensional fluorescence image, and transmits it to the computer;

The PET system is connected to the computer through a PET detector dedicated data line, and is used to continuously collect PET images of the object to be imaged when the disk 7 is fixed and the PET detector 8 forms a closed area, and will obtain The PET image is transmitted to the computer for processing and preservation;

The PET system includes a plurality of PET detectors 8, the number of the PET detectors is an even number of pairs, and not less than four groups, the plurality of PET detectors 8 can form a closed area and its imaging center position is the same as the The imaging center position of the rotating platform 1 is on the same straight line, the PET detector 8 is installed on the disc 7, gamma photons are emitted after the radioactive isotope is injected into the object to be imaged, and the PET detector is moved through the disc 7 8 and form a closed area, the PET detector 8 detects the gamma photons emitted by the object to be imaged, obtains a PET image after photoelectric conversion, and transmits the obtained PET image to the computer;

The computer is equipped with a graphics processing card and can support parallel computing of graphics. The graphics processing card is connected with the linear guide rail 11, the linear translation platform 6, the CT system, the fluorescent imaging system and the PET system, and is used to continuously collect the images of each imaging system. The image obtained, and the collected image is processed, such as position registration, image fusion, etc., and the two-dimensional image is reconstructed into a three-dimensional image, that is, the computer receives the image sent by the CT system, the fluorescence imaging system and the PET system And save and process it, and finally get the three-dimensional image of the object to be imaged;

The computer is also equipped with a communication control interface for connecting the linear guide rail 11 and the linear translation platform 6. This interface can be a USB interface or a serial interface, and these interfaces are connected with the linear guide rail 11 and the linear translation platform through USB lines or serial lines 6 connected, can read its motion parameters from the linear guide rail 11 and the linear translation platform 6, such as position and speed parameters, and return the obtained parameters to the computer, and the computer sends control instructions according to the obtained parameters to control the linear guide rail 11 Move with linear translation stage 6.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the multimodal imaging method of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 2, the multimodal imaging method includes the following steps:

Step 1, the computer controls the linear guide rail to move the platform of the object to be imaged, moves the center of the object to be imaged to the center of the PET detector, starts PET imaging of the object to be imaged, obtains PET image data, and transmits the PET image data to stored in the computer;

Step 2, the computer controls the linear guide rail to move the platform of the object to be imaged, and moves the center of the object to be imaged to the center of the rotating platform. The fluorescence imaging system starts to work, the laser is turned on, and the laser light is irradiated on the object to be imaged. The CCD camera continuously Collecting fluorescent signals emitted from the body of the object to be imaged to obtain a two-dimensional fluorescent image, and transmitting the two-dimensional fluorescent image to the computer for storage;

Step 3: After the fluorescence imaging system collects a two-dimensional fluorescence image, the rotating platform starts to rotate, and at the same time, the CT system starts to continuously collect the tomographic anatomical structure images of the object to be imaged, and transmits the obtained tomographic anatomical structure image data to the Processing and storage in the above computer, the rotating platform stops after rotating 90°;

Step 4, repeating the image acquisition of the fluorescence imaging system and the CT system in the steps 2 and 3, until the rotating platform rotates 360° to complete the acquisition of all two-dimensional fluorescence images and tomographic anatomical structure images;

Step 5, the computer processes all the obtained two-dimensional images, uses the two-dimensional images to reconstruct the three-dimensional image of the object to be imaged, and saves it, so far the multi-modal image acquisition and reconstruction are completed, and the end, wherein the Processing includes but is not limited to image processing such as position registration and image fusion.

Wherein, the image acquisition of the PET system can be performed before the imaging system of other modalities acquires or after the imaging system of other modalities acquires.

The specific embodiments described above have further described the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that the above descriptions are only specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. A structure-optic-nuclide multimodal imaging system, characterized in that the system includes: a support base, a rotating platform, a CT system, a fluorescence imaging system, a PET system, a disk, a linear guide rail, and an object platform to be imaged , stand and computer, of which: The support base is fixed on the ground; The rotating platform is installed perpendicular to the ground at one end of the supporting base, and its rotation center is on the same horizontal line as the center of the object to be imaged. The CT system and the fluorescence imaging system are evenly distributed on the surface of the rotating platform. It is used to rotate according to the imaging requirements of CT system and fluorescence imaging system; The CT system is connected to the computer through a CT dedicated data line, and is used to continuously collect the tomographic anatomical structure images of the object to be imaged during the rotation of the rotating platform, and transmit the collected tomographic anatomical structure images to the computer processing and storage in The fluorescence imaging system is connected to the computer through a USB or serial interface data line, and is used to continuously detect the fluorescence signal in the body of the object to be imaged after the rotating platform rotates to a fixed angle and stops, to obtain a two-dimensional fluorescence image, and The collected fluorescent images are transmitted to the computer for processing and storage; The disc is installed perpendicular to the ground in front of the rotating platform, its center of rotation is at the same level as the center of the object to be imaged, and the PET system is installed on the surface of the disc; The PET system is connected to the computer through a dedicated data line for the PET detector, and is used to continuously collect PET images of the object to be imaged when the disc is fixed and the PET detector forms a closed area, and the obtained PET image The image is transmitted to the computer for processing and storage; The linear guide rail is installed on the upper surface of the support base, and the linear guide rail is provided with a communication control interface for connecting to the computer so as to move according to the control instructions of the computer; The bracket is installed on the linear guide rail; The platform for the object to be imaged is fixed on the bracket for placing the object to be imaged; The computer is used to receive images sent by the CT system, fluorescence imaging system and PET system, store and process them, and finally obtain a three-dimensional image of the object to be imaged. the 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating platform is equipped with: a CCD camera, a laser, an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector and a plurality of linear translation stages, wherein the plurality of linear translation stages The translation stage is installed on the rotating platform and arranged in an orthogonal manner to carry the CT system and the fluorescence imaging system. the 3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein a communication control interface is provided on the linear translation platform, which is connected with the computer so as to move according to the control instructions of the computer. 4 . the 4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the CT system comprises an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector, wherein the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector are installed on the rotating platform oppositely, the The ray opening of the X-ray tube, the center of the object to be imaged and the center of the X-ray detector are on the same straight line. the 5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the fluorescence imaging system includes a laser and a CCD camera, wherein the laser and the CCD camera are relatively installed on a rotating platform, and the imaging field of view of the CCD camera completely includes the image to be imaged. The whole body of the object, the laser light emitted by the laser is irradiated on the object to be imaged, and the object to be imaged generates excited fluorescence, and the CCD camera continuously detects the fluorescent signal in the object to be imaged to form a two-dimensional fluorescence image. the 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the PET system includes a plurality of PET detectors, the PET detectors are installed on the disk, and after injecting the radioactive isotope in the object to be imaged, the gamma is emitted. The horse photon moves the PET detector through the disc to form a closed area. The PET detector detects the gamma photons emitted by the object to be imaged, and obtains the PET image after photoelectric conversion. the 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the number of the PET detectors is an even number of pairs and not less than four groups. the 8. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, the computer is connected with the linear guide rail and the linear translation platform through a communication control interface, and reads its motion parameters, and the computer issues control commands according to the obtained motion parameters, and controls Linear guides and linear translation stages move. the 9. A structure-optics-nuclide multimodal imaging method, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: Step 1, the computer controls the linear guide rail to move the platform of the object to be imaged, moves the center of the object to be imaged to the center of the PET detector, starts PET imaging of the object to be imaged, obtains PET image data, and transmits the PET image data to stored in said computer; Step 2, the computer controls the linear guide rail to move the platform of the object to be imaged, and moves the center of the object to be imaged to the center of the rotating platform. The fluorescence imaging system starts to work, the laser is turned on, and the laser light is irradiated on the object to be imaged. The CCD camera continuously Collecting fluorescent signals emitted from the body of the object to be imaged to obtain a two-dimensional fluorescent image, and transmitting the two-dimensional fluorescent image to the computer for storage; Step 3: After the fluorescence imaging system collects a two-dimensional fluorescence image, the rotating platform starts to rotate, and at the same time, the CT system starts to continuously collect the tomographic anatomical structure images of the object to be imaged, and transmits the obtained tomographic anatomical structure image data to the Processing and storage in the above computer, the rotating platform stops after rotating 90°; Step 4, repeating the image acquisition of the fluorescence imaging system and the CT system in the steps 2 and 3, until the rotating platform rotates 360° to complete the acquisition of all two-dimensional fluorescence images and images of the tomographic anatomy; Step 5, the computer processes all obtained two-dimensional images, uses the two-dimensional images to reconstruct a three-dimensional image of the object to be imaged, and saves it. the

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