Development of a novel mammography system based on X-ray phase contrast imaging (360G-Wellcome-085856_Z_08_Z)

£460,735

The objective of this proposal is to build a laboratory prototype X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCi) system so that the potential of the technique can be demonstrated to interested commercial partners by imaging ex-vivo breast tissue. Synchrotron radiation (SR) experiments have demonstrated that XPCi solves one of the basic problems of diagnostic radiology, i.e. poor image contrast due to small X-ray absorption differences. This problem is particularly significant in mammography where most lesions have absorption characteristics close to those of healthy tissue. XPCi overcomes this limitation because it uses a different physical effect, i.e. refraction/interference of X-rays rather than their absorption. Exploitation of these effects has led to an increase in image contrast and lesion detecability as reported by clinical radiologists. A novel technique, recently developed by the applicants, makes the advantages of XPCi attainable with conventional x-ray sources and detectors. The technique uses coded apertures placed either side of the tissue to be imaged that splits the beam into micro-shafts of photons. These individual beams are aligned with the edges of pixels to ensure that when phase effects occur they cause significant changes in the pixel response. Unlike SR based XPCi this technique can be used with polychromatic, divergent X-ray beams and hence will allow XPCi based upon a conventional mammography source to be transferred into clinical practice. It is this technology that will be exploited and evaluated in the current proposal.

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Grant Details

Amount Awarded 460735
Applicant Surname Speller
Approval Committee Technology Transfer Challenge Committee
Award Date 2008-04-11T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2007/08
Grant Programme: Title Translation Award
Internal ID 085856/Z/08/Z
Lead Applicant Dr R Speller
Partnership Value 460735
Planned Dates: End Date 2013-04-15T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2008-12-16T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country United Kingdom
Region Greater London