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4D-MSPECT Protocols

4D-MSPECT creates images of blood flowing in tissues and organs. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) captures images at varying depths focusing on structures at one depth while blurring structures on another depth to bring structures into focus. A radioactive tracer injected into the body is followed through metabolic processes. Emission tomography receives less radiation from damaged tissues due to reduced tissue function. 4D-MSPECT integrates both tomography and the radioactive tracer.

  1. History

    • James Corbett, MD, and Edward Ficaro, PhD, of the University of Michigan developed 4DM-SPECT to model heart function and measure blood flow in the cardiac muscles. In 1994, the University of Michigan used 4DM-SPECT software on myocardial perfusion patients. Perfusion pertains to blood flow through an organ or tissues. SPECT imaging generates broad diagnostic information and cardio-vascular images with quantitative analysis. In 1996, Ficaro and Corbett published 3D-MSPECT diagnostic results in Circulation. 3D-MSPECT resulted in new algorithms, which drew ADAC, Picker, and Siemens into commercialization of 3D -- MSPECT in 1997. In 2000, the software received FDA approval and was renamed 4D-MSPECT to reflect spatial dimensions. By 2002, General Electric, Philips and Siemens contracted to distribute 4D-MSPECT imaging software.

    Acquisition Protocol

    • The Normals Database Generator is an important part of the 4D-MSPECT acquisition protocol. It generates a database of demographics, patients with similar conditions and detail function, such as ventricular thickening. Patient data is compared to the normals database. Dual isotope protocol specifies which tracer is to be administered and when.

      4D-MSPECT creates cardiac SPECT or gated SPECT data sets. Vertical and horizontal images, cardiac PET or gated PET databases are created. A blood attributes file uncorrected and corrected are created. Cardiac SPECT and gated SPECT data can have a maximum of 16 intervals and resolutions of 8 or 16 frames/ cardiac cycle.

    Test Protocol

    • Raw data is compared to the normals' database to create a 3-dimensional image of the patient's heart and to detail the structures and the blood flow through the heart. Normals databases are within the vendor softwarurese and are selected from a menu. Radio-pharmaceutical protocol, stress test protocol and electrocardiogram protocol are entered during a "database dialog." A normals database is created specifically for each patient. Tracer protocols exist are easily adapted to any protocol. Stress (stress), redistribution (rest), re-injection (delay) protocols or stress (stress) / rest (rest) Tc-99m tracer protocols are created. Symptoms are input as part of the administration of the tests along with the infusion rate, stress test protocol and imaging protocol. Imaging protocol is selected tests and tracers administered.

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