Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RETIMAGER (REAL TIME MOLECULAR IMAGER WITH UNSURPASSED RESOLUTION)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-09-01 bis 2025-08-31
There is no alternative to precision medicine to fight the exponential increase in chronic disease and conditions, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and to improve cancer survivorship rates. RETIMAGER will contribute to the earlier and more precise diagnosis, with smaller radiation doses to the patients through increased detectability and quantitative accuracy.
Our overall technical objective is to develop a functional and anatomical adaptive submillimetre spatial resolution PET imager with 10ms PET temporal resolution formyocardial infarct detection and metabolism imaging of angiogenic and brain tumours. On the commercial, social and user-oriented side, our objective is to provide specific in-field results to establish a new basis for research work and scientific papers.
Our overall technical objective is to develop a functional and anatomical adaptive submillimetre spatial resolution PET imager with 10ms PET temporal resolution formyocardial infarct detection and metabolism imaging of angiogenic and brain tumours. On the commercial, social and user-oriented side, our objective is to provide specific in-field results to establish a new basis for research work and scientific papers.
On the technical side, an initial design of the functional and anatomical adaptive sub-millimetre spatial resolution PET imager layout has been validated. A dual-laser system and an engraving protocol have been set up for the virtual segmentation of the scintillator crystals, and firsts units have been produced and tested. In parallel, the algorithms for Monte Carlo simulations of the system were developed and tested on data and phantoms. The Temporoc ASIC version 2, which is the core of the front-end electronics, has been designed, manufactured and tested, and preliminary measurements show results compatible with the required specifications. The structure that will support the scanner is based on a modular housing that holds the gamma detectors and the fist modules have been manufactured. The same approach is being used for the animal model and the design is ready for final evaluation before manufacture.
On the non-technical side, a dissemination and communication plan, an exploitation plan and a Data Management Plan have been created and the first set of activities have been run.
All deliverables for this first period have been submitted, i.e.: D2.1 D5.1 D6.1 D6.2 D6.3 D6.4 D6.5 D7.1 D7.2 and D7.3. No milestones are due yet for this first year of project execution.
In its second year, the RETIMAGER project has completed the design and technical development stage, and the detector has been finalised and is ready to operate. Its unique design and manufacturing process, which involves laser etching of the scintillator crystals, have been optimised to enhance reliability and performance. We have also finished developing AI-supported procedures for identifying the vertex of gamma-ray interactions. The RETIMAGER data acquisition chain has progressed from testing in RP1 to full approval in RP2, providing time and energy resolutions that meet the project's objectives. The Temporoc-2 ASIC and its successor, the Temporoc-3, are ready for use. This means that the objectives of Work Packages 1 and 2 have been met. Significant progress has been made on the mechanical design. The geometry and thickness of the cover that secures the detector firmly to the housing, as well as the materials and geometry of the detector housing, have been defined. These parts have already been manufactured. An outer frame has also been designed to support and attach the detector loads to the support device. The design of the equipment that will realise RETIMAGER's Brain PET concept is taking shape in the form of a functional demonstrator, and production of the parts has already begun. All deliverables for this first period have been submitted: D1.1 D1.2 D2.2 D3.1 D3.2 D4.1 D6.6 D7.4 and D8.1. The milestone due for this period, MS1: 'Image reconstruction operative with 1 simulated data', has been satisfactorily met.
On the non-technical side, a dissemination and communication plan, an exploitation plan and a Data Management Plan have been created and the first set of activities have been run.
All deliverables for this first period have been submitted, i.e.: D2.1 D5.1 D6.1 D6.2 D6.3 D6.4 D6.5 D7.1 D7.2 and D7.3. No milestones are due yet for this first year of project execution.
In its second year, the RETIMAGER project has completed the design and technical development stage, and the detector has been finalised and is ready to operate. Its unique design and manufacturing process, which involves laser etching of the scintillator crystals, have been optimised to enhance reliability and performance. We have also finished developing AI-supported procedures for identifying the vertex of gamma-ray interactions. The RETIMAGER data acquisition chain has progressed from testing in RP1 to full approval in RP2, providing time and energy resolutions that meet the project's objectives. The Temporoc-2 ASIC and its successor, the Temporoc-3, are ready for use. This means that the objectives of Work Packages 1 and 2 have been met. Significant progress has been made on the mechanical design. The geometry and thickness of the cover that secures the detector firmly to the housing, as well as the materials and geometry of the detector housing, have been defined. These parts have already been manufactured. An outer frame has also been designed to support and attach the detector loads to the support device. The design of the equipment that will realise RETIMAGER's Brain PET concept is taking shape in the form of a functional demonstrator, and production of the parts has already begun. All deliverables for this first period have been submitted: D1.1 D1.2 D2.2 D3.1 D3.2 D4.1 D6.6 D7.4 and D8.1. The milestone due for this period, MS1: 'Image reconstruction operative with 1 simulated data', has been satisfactorily met.
Our new scanner will provide 0.25 mm pixel resolvability with time frames as short as 0.01 sec. By aggregating these blocks in a unique gantry self-adapting to the geometry of the field-of-view, RETIMAGER will achieve an unprecedented increase in sensitivity and in in vivo real-time imaging with submillimeter resolution. We will pair it with high-throughput data processing and AI tools to assess with a single tracer both perfusion and metabolism in preclinical and clinical models. In the long run, RETIMAGER’s faster, lower dose, and less invasive molecular imaging technology will become a game-changer for understanding disease processes by unveiling new accurate image-based quantitative biomarkers, taking scientific and healthcare stakeholders a step closer to personalized precision medicine.
The laser engraving system is in production, and the results of the segmentation of the scintillator crystals are very positive. The engraved crystals function as anticipated, and the patterns employed are entirely original. To date, no one has engraved non-Cartesian patterns as we have with RETIMAGER.
The results obtained with the actual detectors in the bench test match the Monte Carlo simulations of the system. Version 3 of the Temporoc ASIC has been manufactured and tested, and the results of the measurements show that they match the specifications. This innovative gamma detector opens up new possibilities that cannot be offered by conventional designs.
The laser engraving system is in production, and the results of the segmentation of the scintillator crystals are very positive. The engraved crystals function as anticipated, and the patterns employed are entirely original. To date, no one has engraved non-Cartesian patterns as we have with RETIMAGER.
The results obtained with the actual detectors in the bench test match the Monte Carlo simulations of the system. Version 3 of the Temporoc ASIC has been manufactured and tested, and the results of the measurements show that they match the specifications. This innovative gamma detector opens up new possibilities that cannot be offered by conventional designs.