Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography (SPCCT)

PROJECT COORDINATOR: Pr Philippe Douek, Chairman of Imaging Departments , Lyon Hospitals

PROJECT MEMBERS: Team 1: L.Boussel, M. Sigovan, S.Si Mohamed, Y.Minh, T. Su, Y. Berthezene, N. Nighogossian. Team 2: C. Frindel, D. Rousseau. Team 4 : S Ritt , C Mory, J. Abascal, F Peyrin, N Ducros, JM Letang, O Pivot, S Bruno, D Sarut

I. Context socio-economic and Objectives: Atherosclerosis and its consequences remain the main cause of mortality in industrialized and developing nations. Despite major advances in treatment, a large number of victims die or are disabled either because the first manifestation is sudden death or an acute cardiovascular event, or because of lack of treatment efficacy, that can be partly caused by the inadequacy of the treatment. Having a fast imaging method with contrast agent specific to inflammation and damages to the micro-circulation process would allow us to better adapt the therapy to the individual patients but also to better assess the efficacy of new therapies such as cyclosporine in acute MI.

Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography (SPCCT) is a new imaging modality, currently in development, with a complete new type of detection chain which pairs high count-rate capabilities (limiting scan time) to multiple energy discrimination and high spatial resolution (200µm). Due to the energy discrimination, SPCCT can detect and quantify accurately a large variety of atoms (including Iodine, Gadolinium, Gold, Bismuth) by using the K-edge technique.

Thus, developing a fully clinically functioning SPCCT modality necessitates developing and merging two technologies:

(a) the acquisition system (mainly through the development of the detector) on one hand

(b) and specific contrast agents on the other hand.

The core objective of this project is therefore to develop and validate a widely accessible, new quantitative and analytical imaging technology combining Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography (SPCCT) AND dedicated contrast agents to accurately detect, characterize and monitor neurovascular and cardiovascular disease.

The project will be organized in 2 consecutive phases of 2 years each (from pre-clinical to clinical), to reach a TRL 6-7 by the end of year 4

II. Funding:

H2020 EU Project grant No 643694

NIH grant R01 HL131557

ANR National Infrastructure FLI – France Life Imaging (Partner)

ANR Equipex LILI– Lyon Integrated Life Imaging (Partner)

ANR Labex PRIMES – Physique, Radiobiologie, Imagerie Médicale et Simulation (WP2)

III. Collaborations:

Part. No *	Participant organization name	Country	Lead scientist	Role in the project
1	University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (coordinator) – UCBL and Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS Lyon) involved as a Third party, linked to UCBL	FR	Pr Philippe Douek	Coordinator, Preclinical and clinical evaluation, contrast agents development
2	Philips Research - PRH	DE	Dr Ewald Roessl	Image Acquisition, Processing and reconstruction
3	Philips Medical Systems Technologies, Ltd - PMSTL	IL	Dr Ira Blevis	Photon Counting system development
4	MATHYM - MATHYM	FR	Julien Alberici	Contrast agent development
5	Univerista’ degli Studi di Torino - UniTO	IT	Pr Silvio Aime	Contrast agent development
6	VOXCAN - VOXCAN	FR	Dr Emmanuel Chereul	Animal models, preclinical evaluation
7	Erasmus University Rotterdam - EUR	NL	Pr. J.L. (Hans) Severens	Cost effectiveness
8	Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc - CUSL	BE	Pr Emmanuel Coche	Clinical evaluation
9	Lyon Ingénierie Projets - LIP	FR	Dr Javier Olaiz	Project Management
10	King's College, London - KCL	UK	Dr ReneBotnar	Contrast agent evaluation
11 12 13 14 15	BRACCO Imaging S.P.A – Bracco Technische Universität München (TUM) UMC Utrecht (UMCU) University Hospital Cologne University of Pennsylvania	IT D NL D USA	Dr Luisa Poggi Dr Peter Noel Dr T Leiner Dr D Maintz Dr Cormode	Contrast agent development, toxicity Image acquisition Image acquisition Image acquisition Contrast agent development USA Dr D Cormode Contrast agent

WorkShops:

st SPECTRAL PHOTON COUNTING CT WORKSHOP, September 7-8, 2015

2 nd SPECTRAL PHOTON COUNTING CT WORKSHOP, November 17, 2017

IV. Publications:

Muenzel, Daniela, Daniel Bar-Ness, Ewald Roessl, Ira Blevis, Matthias Bartels, Alexander A. Fingerle, Stefan Ruschke, et al. “Spectral Photon-Counting CT: Initial Experience with Dual-Contrast Agent K-Edge Colonography.” Radiology, December 2, 2016, 160890.

D Bar-Ness, S Si-Mohamed, M Sigovan, D P Cormode, J Balegamire, P C Douek, L Boussel, and P Coulon. “Multi-Contrast Agent Quantitative Separation via K-Edge Imaging Using Spectral Photon-Counting Computed Tomography,” RSNA. 2016, sec. Abstract.

S Si-Mohamed, D P Cormode, D Bar-ness, Monica Sigovan, Lara Chalabreysse, P C Naha, P Coulon, et al. “Determination of Biodistribution of Gold Nanoparticles Using Spectral Photon-Counting Computed Tomography K-Edge Imaging in Vivo,” RSNA. 2016, sec. Abstract.

S Si-Mohamed, D P Cormode, M Sigovan, D Bar-Ness, J Langlois, P C Naha, F Lavenne, et al. “In Vivo Quantitative Dynamic Angiography with Gold Nanoparticles and Spectral Photon-Counting Computed Tomography K-Edge Imaging,” RSNA. 2016, sec. Abstract.

Sigovan, Monica, Bar-Ness, Daniel, Si-Mohamed, Salim, Mitchell, Julia, Langloid, Jean-Baptiste, Coulon, Philippe, Barthels, Matthias, et al. “Initial Experience in Improving Vascular Imaging in the Presence of Metallic Stents Using Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography and K-Edge Imaging.” RSNA. 2016, sec. Abstract.

Salim Si-Mohamed, Gabrielle Normand, Sandrine Lemoine, Monica Sigovan, Daniel Bar-Ness, Jean-Bapiste Langlois, Loïc Boussel, Laurent Juillard, and Philippe Douek. “Dynamic Iodine and Gadolinium K-Edge Kidney Perfusion Imaging Using Spectral Photon-Counting Ct.” Abstract, ECR. 2017.

David Cormode, Salim Si-mohamed, Daniel Bar-Ness, Monica Sigovan, Philippe Coulon, Joelle Belgamire, Ewald Roessl, et al. “Multicolor Spectral Photon-Counting Computed Tomography: In Vivo Dual Contrast Imaging with a High Count Rate Scanner.” Abstract, ECR. 2017

V. Ambition :

This project will overcome the actual limitations of all the current available imaging modalities used in CV by developing a non-radioactive molecular imaging technique using SPCCT in human. This will be achievable with a high spatial resolution of 200µm combined with the newly developed vascular inflammation specific contrast agent detected with high quality K-edge technique that can only be provided by a multi-spectral X-ray system.

We will furthermore combine, in a single project, different communities of researchers including specialist in CT technology and image processing, chemists and specialists in animal models of diseases. We will therefore provide a complete tool (acquisition system & specific probes) dedicated to in vivo spectral CV imaging.

Another important element of this project is that the concept can be further extended to other fields that need specificity and spatial resolution, in particular oncology.

Finally, in order to anticipate, and prepare the ground for the exploitation of this highly innovative and ambitious technology, we will evaluate through the development of new models, its potential long-term economic and societal benefit.