Research Interests
General research interests of the core faculty include all aspects of medical, radiological, and health physics. Work with the diagnostic/interventional imaging group emphasizes imaging system development, computerized instrumentation, and image processing. Also, there has been a growing emphasis on developing improved minimally invasive Image Guided Interventional (IGI) technologies, such as stents (seen below), which can help replace more invasive surgical procedures. For example, such procedures use catheters guided through the vasculature to a pathological site where therapy is performed under real-time radiographic image guidance.
We are currently developing
real-time digital techniquesfor improved imaging in IGI radiographic procedures at reduced radiation doses. The projects combine the applied imaging physics of radiation sources and detectors with systems development of mechanical, electronic, optical, as well as computer-image-processing capabilities. There is a major project which includes development of specialized radiographic detectors for high speed and high resolution interventional imaging.
Our group was the first to demonstrate clinical angiography with high resolution region of interest micro-angiographic detectors that we have developed. In collaboration with Toshiba, we were the first to demonstrate high resolution angiography on a direct conversion flat panel detector containing an amorphous selenium photoconductor rather than a phosphor detection layer.
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Above: The UB experimental Micro-Angiography Detector System
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We are also developing imaging methods for investigating hemodynamic flow during catheter based procedures and we have been working on implementing patient-specific blood flow modification with specially developed stents designed to treat brain aneurysms. With Cone-beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), we will be able to provide a fully three-dimensional computer model of such an aneurysm and simulate a treatment plan using Computed Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis followed by the design, creation, and deployment of an actual patient specific stent.
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Right: A micro-angiographic projection image of stent-mesh in an aneurysm phantom.
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Examples of other projects which have been underway include the exploration of light amplifiers for high resolution fluoroscopic detectors, application of new detector technology to CBCT mammography, development of new methods to evaluation imaging systems using generalized cascade linear systems modeling, development of CBCT mathematical algorithms for region-of-interest CT, development of rapid, multiple scanning-beam techniques for greatly improving radiographic contrast, the study of image magnification in fluoroscopy, the study of x-ray image intensifier distortion characteristics, the development of methods for quality control in diagnostic radiology, and the measurement and reduction of patient dose during radiographic procedures.
The therapeutic physics group at RPCI has been doing research in a variety of areas related to IMRT and calculation and calibration of radiation dose distributions. Many of the projects are closely related to the busy clinical radiation oncology service provided at RPCI.
Research by the nuclear medicine physics group has centered around new developments in PET imaging including new, higher resolution detection methods and improvements in imaging software and analysis. Collaborative work with the micro-PET scanner is also encouraged and multi-modality research is encouraged.
Research in MRI centers around the high field facility
at RPCI where research into new contrast methods for evaluating new
cancer therapies and new MRI pulse sequences for improved imaging are
being developed.
In addition to the dedicated research facilities such as the UB Toshiba Stoke Research Center, most clinical facilities of the Departments of Radiology, Neurosurgery, and Nuclear Medicine of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are available for research; equipment includes a variety of modern medical radiographic and fluoroscopic machines, computed tomography and ultrasound scanners, various radioisotope sources and nuclear medicine cameras. Specialized research facilities include massive parallel computing capacities, 3D rendering workstations, complete hemodynamics and flow laboratory, and an electronics laboratory and shop.