An internet-based "kinetic imaging system" (KIS) for MicroPET.
Many considerations, involving understanding and selection of multiple experimental parameters, are required to perform MicroPET studies properly. The large number of these parameters/variables and their complicated interdependence make their optimal choice nontrivial. We have a developed kinetic imaging system (KIS), an integrated software system, to assist the planning, design, and data analysis of MicroPET studies. The system serves multiple functions-education, virtual experimentation, experimental design, and image analysis of simulated/experimental data-and consists of four main functional modules--"Dictionary," "Virtual Experimentation," "Image Analysis," and "Model Fitting." The "Dictionary" module provides didactic information on tracer kinetics, pharmacokinetic, MicroPET imaging, and relevant biological/pharmacological information. The "Virtual Experimentation" module allows users to examine via computer simulations the effect of biochemical/pharmacokinetic parameters on tissue tracer kinetics. It generates dynamic MicroPET images based on the user's assignment of kinetics or kinetic parameters to different tissue organs in a 3-D digital mouse phantom. Experimental parameters can be adjusted to investigate the design options of a MicroPET experiment. The "Image Analysis" module is a full-fledged image display/manipulation program. The "Model Fitting" module provides model-fitting capability for measured/simulated tissue kinetics. The system can be run either through the Web or as a stand-alone process. With KIS, radiotracer characteristics, administration method, dose level, imaging sequence, and image resolution-to-noise tradeoff can be evaluated using virtual experimentation. KIS is designed for biology/pharmaceutical scientists to make learning and applying tracer kinetics fun and easy.
Huang
Sung-Cheng
SC
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California in Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. hhuang@mednet.ucla.edu
Truong
David
D
Wu
Hsiao-Ming
HM
Chatziioannou
Arion F
AF
Shao
Weber
W
Wu
Anna M
AM
Phelps
Michael E
ME
D000818:Animals; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software