Introduction

The invention developed together with the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid relates a new Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) System, designed and tested to minimize the electronic signal processing inside the PET and further miniaturized for the insertion in the MRI system. Both signals are recorded and transmitted in OW to a remote processing system for the digitalization, processing and integration.

Technical features

The integration between Posytron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is still unsolved. Main obstacles are intense magnetic fields, needed for the MRI functioning that affect the PET detectors. Some solutions have been proposed for the simultaneous acquisition of the two signals (Philips Ingenuity TF PET/MR) and image merging post acquisition solutions (Siemens Biograph). Still some problems exist related to space availability, long cables and low merging accuracy.

The invention consists of a new Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) system, deisgned and tested to minimize the electronic signal processing in the insert of the PET, to make it compatible with the MRI system. The signals are transmitted in OW to a remote processor for the digitalization, processing and integration. This system can be easily integrated into structures already in use, and with a few modifications it is possible to integrate the technology with other methods of magnetic resonance or scanning (MRI, CT, CT etc.).

Possible Applications

• 3D body scan and mathematical modelling;
• Whole-body and metabolome scanning;
• Cancer and soft tissue imaging;
• Hearth and brain imaging (i.e., glioma, Alzheimer);
• Neonatal imaging (where merging and / or semi-simultaneous is not applied).

Advantages

• Cable-less, low power consumption and reduced costs;
• Simultaneous acquisition;
• Realisation of a PET insert for MRI systems: two technologies can be fully integrated.