SU‐E‐T‐277: Hypothesis and Design of an Integrated X‐Ray/Bioluminescent Imaging (BLI) and Tomography (BLT) System for the Study of Radiation and Treatment in Small Animals

PURPOSE: Design and construct an integrated x-ray/bioluminescent tomography (BLT) system (with BLT being our initial focus) that can function as a standalone research apparatus and also on-board the SARRP to guide focal irradiation. In addition, it is aimed to enhance the BLT of the system to improve target localization by incorporating multi-projection, multi-spectral BL images, as well as CT 'priors'. METHODS: The SARRP system integrates a portable robotic translational/rotational stages system and an x-ray source which in the new system development the x-ray source is replaced with the PXS10-65 W model rated at maximum 130 kV having a variable small focal. A high performance, low noise, CCD camera mounted on a light-tight housing along is used for the aim of the BL imaging and tomography. In the new setup of the BLI system, the camera-filter-mirror assembly is attached to a motorized gantry to acquire images in angles between to while the position of the camera does not block the path of the x- ray beam. Innovatively, a 3-mirror arrangement is implemented to eliminate the need to rotate the CCD camera for capturing images. Furthermore, the robotic stage can be vertically adjusted to allow BLI imaging of multiple animals. RESULTS: To validate the accuracy with the on-board x-ray and BL tomography can be used to localize a BL tumor target and the minimum beam expansion to ensure radiation coverage of the target. The validation will employ phantoms and immunohistochemistry analysis of radiation damage in irradiated BL tumor models in vivo. The proposed system is currently under development and envisioned to be calibrated and evaluated along with the stand-alone radiation system. CONCLUSIONS: The novelty of embedded BLI guidance system is to enable the unprecedented focal irradiation of the small volumes of tumors which are more realistic in human disease.