Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Mecwins, S.a.

Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh

Andreas Thon

Thomas Frach

Torsten Solf

Volkmar Schulz

Johan Overweg

Herfried Karl Wieczorek

Gordian Prescher

Steven E Cooke

Valerio Pini

Antonio Salvador-Matar Renteria

Virginia Cebrián Hernando

Carlos García Aguado

Jesús Oscar Ahumada Heredero

Thomas Leroy Laurence

Walter Ruetten

Jerome John Griesmer

Gerd Muehllehner

Klaus Fiedler

Michael J Geagan

Ralph Brinks

Carsten Degenhardt

Jeffrey Allan Kolthammer

Biosensing platform for simultaneous, multiplexed, high throughput and ultra-sensitive optical detection of biomarkers labelled with plasmonic nanoparticles, the platform being provided with a biosensor, a broadband and continuous spectrum illumination source, an optical detector for simultaneously capturing spatially resolved and spectrally resolved the scattering signal of each individual nanoparticle, an autofocus system and an optical system adapted to collect the scattered signal of the biosensor's surface onto the optical detector, the platform being provided with translation means for the optical system and/or the biosensor, such that the optical system and the biosensor can be displaced relative to each other in the three dimensions, and wherein the processing means are adapted to: i) simultaneously capture spatially and spectrally resolved scattering signals from each nanoparticle individually, and ii) to analyze these signals simultaneously with the capture process.

Biosensor platform and method for the simultaneous, multiplexed, ultra-sensitive and high throughput optical detection of biomarkers

A method for optically detecting biomarkers in a biosensor is disclosed, wherein the optical detection obtains spatially and spectrally resolved optical signals from a sample on a biosensor, and one or more of these spatially and spectrally resolved optical signals can be analyzed in parallel with image acquisition. The image analysis comprises reading data of the acquired images, correcting them to reduce inhomogeneities and noise, localizing particles in the images, characterizing each particle individually to obtain its position and characterization parameters, and classifying the particles based on their characterization parameters. Using the number of particles per class for all the acquired images of the sample, a statistical value is calculated per sample and each statistical value is correlated with an indication of the presence of a biomarker in the sample.

Method for optically detecting biomarkers

When designing detector arrays for diagnostic imaging devices, such as PET or SPECT devices, a virtual detector, or pixel, combines scintillator crystals with photodetectors in ratios that deviate from the conventional 1:1 ratio. For instance, multiple photodetectors can be glued to a single crystal to create a virtual pixel which can be software-based or hardware-based. Light energy and time stamp information for a gamma ray hit on the crystal can be calculated using a virtualizer processor or using a trigger line network and time-to-digital converter logic. Additionally or alternatively, multiple crystals can be associated with each of a plurality of photodetectors. A gamma ray hit on a specific crystal is then determined by a table lookup of adjacent photodetectors that register equal light intensities, and the crystal common to such photodetectors is identified as the location of the hit.

Virtual pet detector and quasi-pixelated readout scheme for pet

In a combined system, a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner includes a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a MR examination region from which MR data are acquired. Radiation detectors are configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography (PET) examination region. The radiation detectors include electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnet is an open magnet having first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces disposed on opposite sides of a magnetic resonance examination region, and the radiation detectors include first and second arrays of radiation detectors disposed with the first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces.

PET/MR scanners for simultaneous PET and MR imaging

When designing detector arrays for diagnostic imaging devices, such as PET or SPECT devices, a virtual detector, or pixel, combines scintillator crystals () with photodetectors () in ratios that deviate from the conventional 1:1 ratio. For instance, multiple photodetectors can be glued to a single crystal to create a virtual pixel () which can be software-based or hardware-based. Light energy and time stamp information for a gamma ray hit on the crystal can be calculated using a virtualizer processor or using a trigger line network and time-to-digital converter logic. Additionally or alternatively, multiple crystals () can be associated with each of a plurality of photodetectors (). A gamma ray hit on a specific crystal is then determined by a table lookup of adjacent photodetectors () that register equal light intensities, and the crystal () common to such photodetectors () is identified as the location of the hit.

Virtual PET detector and quasi-pixelated readout scheme for PET

A pixellated detector with an enhanced structure enables easy pixel identification even with high light output at crystal edges. A half-pixel shift between scintillator crystals () and detector pixels () enables the identification of a crystal () from four detector pixels () instead of nine pixels in case of optical crosstalk. Glass plates without any mechanical structuring may be used as a common substrate () for detectors and scintillators.

Pixellated detector device

When employing specular reflective material in a scintillator crystal array, light trapping in the crystal due to repetitive internal reflection is mitigated by roughening at least one side () of each of a plurality of pre-formed polished scintillator crystals. A specular reflector material () is applied (deposited, wrapped around, etc.) to the roughened crystals, which are arranged in an array. Each crystal array is coupled to a silicon photodetector () to form a detector array, which can be mounted in a detector for a functional scanner or the like.

Optimized scintilator crystals for PET

A time of flight positron emission tomography apparatus () includes a detector (), a data acquisition system (), a coincidence system () and a reconstructor (). Various elements of an imaging chain influence the temporal resolution of the system () so that positron data collected along different lines of response is characterized by different temporal resolutions. The different temporal resolutions are used to estimate the positions of detected events along their respective lines of response.

Method and system for improved TOF PET reconstruction

An apparatus comprises a plurality of radiation conversion elements () that convert radiation to light, and a reflector layer () disposed around the plurality of radiation conversion elements. The plurality of radiation conversion elements may consist of two radiation conversion elements and the reflector layer is wrapped around the two radiation conversion elements with ends () of the reflector layer tucked between the two radiation conversion elements. The reflector layer () may include a light reflective layer () having reflectance greater than 90% disposed adjacent to the radiation conversion elements when the reflector layer () is disposed around the plurality of radiation conversion elements, and a light barrier layer ().

Radiation conversion elements with reflectors for radiological imaging apparatus

A light transmitting element such as a scintillating element () or an optic fiber () has side surfaces coated with a metamaterial () which has an index of refraction less than 1 and preferably close to zero to light transmitted in the light transmitting element. A photonic crystal () or metamaterial layer optically couples a light output face of the light transmitting element with a light sensitive element (), such as a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). A thin metal layer () blocks optical communication between adjacent scintillating elements () in a radiation detector (), such as a radiation detector of a nuclear imaging system ().

Method to optimize the light extraction from scintillator crystals in a solid-state detector

A family of photodetectors includes at least first and second members. In one embodiment, the family includes members having different pixel sizes. In another, the family includes members having the same pixel size. The detection efficiency of the detectors is optimized to provide a desired energy resolution at one or more energies of interest.

Silicon photomultiplier energy resolution

An apparatus includes a plurality of photosensors. Photon trigger signals produced in response to signals from the sensors are received by a trigger line network that includes segment, intermediate), and master lines. The trigger network is configured to reduce a temporal skew introduced by the trigger line network. Validation logic provides a trigger validation output signal.

Silicon photomultiplier trigger network

In nuclear imaging, solid state photo multipliers () are replacing traditional photomultiplier tubes. One current problem with solid state photomultipliers, is that they are difficult to manufacture in the size in which a typical scintillator is manufactured. Resultantly, the photomultipliers have a smaller light receiving face () than a light emitting face () of the scintillators (). The present application contemplates inserting a reflective material () between the solid state photomultipliers (). Instead of being wasted, light that initially misses the photomultiplier () is reflected back by the reflective material () and eventually back to the radiation receiving face () of the photomultiplier ().

Growing community of inventors

Aachen, Germany

Andreas Thon