Development of a Parallel Computing Optimized Head Movement Correction Method in Positron Emission Tomography

Abschlussarbeit (Master)

As a modern tomographic technique, Positron-Emission-Tomography (PET) enables non-invasive imaging of metabolic processes in living organisms. It allows the visualization of malfunctions which are characteristic for neurological, cardiological, and oncological diseases. Chemical tracers labeled with radioactive positron emitting isotopes are injected into the patient and the decay of the isotopes is then observed with the detectors of the tomograph. This information is used to compute the spatial distribution of the labeled tracers. Since the spatial resolution of PET devices increases steadily, the whole sensitive process of tomograph imaging requires minimizing not only the disturbing effects, which are specific for the PET measurement method, such as random or scattered coincidences, but also external effects like body movement of the patient. Methods to correct the influences of such patient movement have been developed in previous studies at the PET center, Rossendorf. These methods are based on the spatial correction of each registered coincidence. However, the large amount of data and the complexity of the correction algorithms limited the application to selected studies. The aim of this thesis is to optimize the correction algorithms in a way that allows movement correction in routinely performed PET examinations. The object-oriented development in C++ with support of the platform independent Qt framework enables the employment of multiprocessor systems. In addition, a graphical user interface allows the use of the application by the medical assistant technicians of the PET center. Furthermore, the application provides methods to acquire and administrate movement information directly from the motion tracking system via network communication. Due to the parallelization the performance of the new implementation demonstrates a significant improvement. The parallel optimizations and the implementation of an intuitive usable graphical interface finally enables the PET center Rossendorf to use movement correction in routine patient investigations, thus providing patients an improved tomograph imaging.

Klassifikation und Themen

• Thema: Medizin und Gesundheit

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Langner, Jens
• Ereignis: Herstellung
• (wer): Iwe, Heino ; van den Hoff, Jörg
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden ; Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V.

Weitere Informationen

• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-23396
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 14.03.2025, 08:16 MEZ