The CDAU — a common data acquisition unit for the radiation imaging detectors at HIRFL-CSR

A common data acquisition unit (CDAU) has been designed for data transmission in the radiation imaging detectors in the Heavy Ion Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL). With a bandwidth of 64 Gbps, this CDAU can meet the need for most of the experiment. The CDAU can connect four front-end readout cards (FECs) through optical links for data collection, packaging, and transmission. This CDAU is based on the PCI Express (PCIe) Gen3 bus, using Xilinx Kintex Ultrascale series FPGA, combined with the periphery circuits design to complete the data acquisition system. This paper will discuss the design and performance of the CDAU.

Using the Bosniak classification from the perspective of current clinical guidelines: the role of multiparameter ultrasound

Kidney cystic formations are a common finding during ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Most kidney cysts are benign, however, in 5–7 % of cases, renal cell carcinoma can be represented by a complex cystic formation. The Bosniak classification allows you to determine the risk of a malignant process and, depending on the assignment of the resulting image to a category, plan treatment tactics. The classification was initially based on the characteristics of cysts according to computed tomography data. Other methods of radiation imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, are now also used to characterize complex cystic lesions. The article provides data on the assessment of renal cystic formations according to the Bosniak classification according to modern clinical guidelines, including the use of multiparametric ultrasound

Large size growth of terbium doped BaCl2/NaCl/KCl eutectic for radiation imaging

In this study, a large-size eutectic scintillator of Tb-doped BaCl2/NaCl/KCl was grown using the Czochralski (Cz) and halide vertical Bridgman methods (H-VB). The suitability of these two growth methods for growing the eutectic was compared. Finally, 1 diameter eutectic bulks were obtained using the H-VB method. The Tb3+-derived strongest intensity peak at approximately 550 nm was observed by X-ray irradiation. An approximately 3 × 3 mm transparent eutectic plate was cut and polished from the grown eutectic bulk. An α-ray imaging test was performed using the eutectic plate, a fiber optic plate, and an electron-multiplying CCD camera. The resolution performance for radiation-imaging applications was evaluated.

Near-Infrared Imaging With Indocyanine Green for the Treatment of Endometriosis: Results From the Gre-Endo Trial

IntroductionA current challenge for endometriosis surgery is to correctly identify the localizations of disease, especially when small or hidden (occult endometriosis), and to exactly define their real extension. The use of near-infrared radiation imaging (NIR) after injection of indocyanine green (ICG) represents one of the most encouraging method. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of NIR-ICG imaging in the surgical treatment of endometriosis compared with the standard of treatment.Material and MethodsThe Gre-Endo trial is a prospective, single-arm study (NCT03332004). After exploring the operatory field using the white light (WL) mode, patients were injected with ICG and then observed in NIR mode. All suspected areas were classified and chronicled according to lesions visualized only in WL, NIR-ICG, or in the combination of both. Lesion not visualized in WL was considered as suspect occult lesion (s-OcL). In addition, a random control biopsy from an apparent negative peritoneum visualized in WL and NIR-ICG imaging was taken for all patients (control cases). All lesions removed were considered “suspect endometriosis” until pathology.ResultsFifty-one patients were enrolled between January 2016 and October 2019. A total of 240 suspected lesions have been identified with both methods (WL + NIR-ICG). Two hundred and seven (86.2%) lesions out of the overall 240 were visualized with WL imaging, and 200 were confirmed to be pathologic (true positive for WL). The remaining 33/240 (13.75%) (false negative for WL) lesions were identified only with NIR-ICG imaging and collected as s-OcL. All 33 s-OcLs removed were confirmed to be pathologic (c-OcL = 100%). NIR-ICG vision showed PPV of 98.5%, NPV of 87.1%, Se of 87%, and Sp of 98.5%, confirming that this kind of imaging is an excellent diagnostic and screening test (p = 0.001 and p = 0.835, according to McNemar’s and Cohen’s kappa tests, respectively).ConclusionsThe use of NIR-ICG vision alone and combined with WL showed good results in intraoperative detection rate and fluorescence-guided surgery of endometriosis. Furthermore, NIR-ICG allowed surgeons to remove occult lesions that otherwise would remain, leading to possible greater postoperative pain and a higher risk of persistence and relapse.

A Study on Radiation Imaging Mechanism and Characteristics in Different Inspection Systems

Radiation imaging, as a key issue in nuclear technology, has received considerable attention in the industry. It is widely used in nuclear medicine, Customs supervision, and many other areas. The objective of this investigation is to get insight into the principle, operation characteristics and image characteristics of radiation imaging. In this paper, an investigation on radiation imaging is conducted on three main inspection systems for Customs supervision, including small X-ray inspection machine, CT baggage inspection system, and large container inspection system. The principle, operation characteristics, evaluation indexes, pseudo-color processing and image characteristics are discussed in detail. The results indicate that the spatial resolution of small X-ray inspection machine is much higher than that of CT baggage/goods inspection system and large container/vehicle inspection system. It is a challenge to identify substances and specific shapes in the case of overlapping for small X-ray inspection system. Moreover, the mechanism of X-ray images is discussed as well. The radiation images are divided into three types, including two-dimensional, pseudo-color, high spatial resolution; two-dimensional, gray, high spatial resolution; three-dimensional, pseudo-color, high density resolution. The further investigation on machine inspection images is suggested to focus on the application environment. For some objects with specific characteristics, such as amorphous, explosive, the CT baggage inspection has much better performance than other systems. The research in this paper reveals the mechanism, parametric effect and imaging characteristics. It could provide a necessary foundation for the follow-up intelligent processing, detection, identification and annotation for radiation imaging in nuclear area. The research on inspection devices could lend strong experience to medical treatment, industry and many other fields.

The Role of Computed Tomography in Pneumonia in Patients with Associated Coronavirus Infection

The appearance of COVID-19 has set tasks for healthcare professionals related to rapid diagnosis and provision of medical care to patients. The diagnosis of COVID-19 infection is based on the complex application of clinical, radiological and laboratory research methods[1].Radiation research methods used to diagnose patients with suspected COVID-19 and viral pneumonia of another nature include: radiography, computed tomography and ultrasound examination of the lungs. Radiation imaging data allow us to suspect lung damage of viral etiology (including COVID-19), influence the management of a particular patient, the treatment of complications or the formulation of an alternative diagnosis with a high probability of lung damage of viral etiology.