The first mobile photon-counting detector CT: the human images and technical performance study

Abstract Objective . The purpose of this study is to assess its human images and its unique capabilities such as the ‘on demand’ higher spatial resolution and multi-spectral imaging of photon-counting-detector (PCD)-CT. Approach . In this study, the FDA 510(k) cleared mobile PCD-CT (OmniTom Elite) was used. To this end, we imaged internationally certified CT phantoms and a human cadaver head to evaluate the feasibility of high resolution (HR) and multi-energy imaging. We also demonstrate the performance of PCD-CT via first-in-human imaging by scanning three human volunteers. Main results . At the 5 mm slice thickness, routinely used in diagnostic head CT, the first human PCD-CT images were diagnostically equivalent to the EID-CT scanner. The HR acquisition mode of PCD-CT achieved a resolution of 11 line-pairs (lp)/cm as compared to 7 lp cm −1 using the same kernel (posterior fossa-kernel) in the standard acquisition mode of EID-CT. For the quantitative multi-energy CT performance, the measured CT numbers in virtual mono-energetic images (VMI) of iodine inserts in the Gammex Multi-Energy CT phantom (model 1492, Sun Nuclear Corporation, USA) matched the manufacturer reference values with mean percent error of 3.25%. Multi-energy decomposition with PCD-CT demonstrated the separation and quantification of iodine, calcium, and water. Significance . PCD-CT can achieve multi-resolution acquisition modes without physically changing the CT detector. It can provide superior spatial resolution compared with the standard acquisition mode the conventional mobile EID-CT. Quantitative spectral capability of PCD-CT can provide accurate, simultaneous multi-energy images for material decomposition and VMI generation using a single exposure.