Author: Rachael Blair, Les Butler, Lillian Dickson, Kyungmin Ham, Charles Hartman, Kenneth (Kip) Matthews, Corinne Vanya 👨🔬
Affiliation: Louisiana State University, University of Minnesota, Refined Imaging LLC, Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices 🌍
Purpose:
To develop and evaluate an x-ray interferometry system (XIS) for low-dose, high-sensitivity diagnostic imaging of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and lung cancer.
Methods:
X-ray interferometry imaging is a novel technique that produces dark-field and phase-contrast images in addition to standard radiographs. This method leverages diffraction gratings to detect structural changes in lung tissue with higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional radiography and low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). The XIS is built with a 150 kV x-ray source, two Varex 1207N flat panel detectors, and interferometry optics in a Talbot-Lau configuration. A gantry system supports the detectors, which capture each lung in a posterior-anterior (PA) view with source-to-detector distances similar to chest radiography. The system captures lung images in 6 seconds (single breath hold) at a radiation dose of 35 mSv. A graphical user interface (GUI), developed in Python 3.11, integrates system components and manages scan parameters, data acquisition, and image processing.
The system will undergo rigorous testing using anthropomorphic phantoms to optimize image quality and evaluate dosimetry. Subsequently, a pilot study will involve 20 healthy volunteers and patients with COPD to validate diagnostic capabilities. Radiologists will interpret dark-field images for diagnostic features and compare findings to pulmonary function tests and LDCT results.
Results:
Preliminary studies demonstrate the potential of x-ray interferometry imaging to detect acute lung inflammation, pulmonary nodules, and early structural changes indicative of emphysema. The system's single-breath-hold operation and low-dose imaging align with clinical requirements for routine pulmonary imaging.
Conclusion:
This work highlights the potential of x-ray interferometry imaging to serve as a low-dose, high-sensitivity alternative for diagnosing and monitoring lung diseases. The system's innovative design and diagnostic capability have the potential to transform pulmonary imaging practices.