QUADNET, SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
PET9-30IIT
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
A NEW PROCESSING METHOD SHARPENS PET IMAGES
CHICAGO, --Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and substance
abuse--keys to better understanding of these disorders lie in
the brain. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are used
routinely in brain research, but PET images can be blurry and
the numbers representing them inaccurate.
The major culprit in this problem is noise--undesirable
information that can obscure vital data. Miles N. Wernick,
assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is
developing a new method of processing PET images that promises
to reduce noise and blur and speed up the imaging process.
Currently, a PET scan measuring, for example, the density of
dopamine receptors in the brain typically produces a sequence of
50 images. Normally, the images are processed one by one--a
time-consuming task which produces poor results.
Instead, Wernick's method begins by identifying a few primary
time behaviors (changes in brightness of the image over time)
going on in the brain, and disregards the rest of the
information, which is almost entirely the result of noise in the
imaging process. This reduces the amount of data that needs to
be processed and effectively eliminates the corrupting effect of
noise.
The degree to which each of these major time behaviors plays a
role is calculated for each point in the brain, and the results
are used to construct a sequence of images that are sharper,
less noisy and more accurate than current PET images.
"The real key to our method is that it takes into account the
relationships between the images," explains Wernick. "We only
look at the important information."
The new method could positively impact a variety of medical
applications including the study and diagnosis of brain
disorders, the detection of changes in estrogen receptors caused
by breast and ovarian cancer, and identifying arterial blockages
in heart scans.
IIT is a private, Ph.D.-granting university with programs in
engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, design
and law. One of the 17 institutions that comprise the
Association of Independent Technological Universities (AITU),
IIT offers exceptional preparation for professions that require
technological sophistication. Through a committed faculty and
close personal attention, IIT provides a challenging academic
program focused by the rigor of the real world.
-30-
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, Illinois
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Tel. (312) 567-3104 FAX (312) [log in to unmask] That man may last, but never lives,
Who much receives, but nothing gives;
HomeBoy #Parkinsons Whom none can love, whom none can thank,--
Creation's blot, creation's blank.
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