Stationary prospective cardiac gated computed tomography—dynamic study in phantoms and in vivo

Abstract

This study explores the feasibility of a stationary gantry cardiac gated computed tomography (CT) with carbon nanotube (CNT) linear x-ray source arrays. Conventional rotational CTs are limited by the rotational forces on the rapidly spinning gantries. We have recently developed a stationary gantry CT system utilizing the multipixel CNT x-ray sources. As these sources also enable straightforward x-ray pulse control, we sought to explore the potential for performing gated prospective imaging with our stationary CT system. Prospective respiratory and cardiac gating control was implemented and the system was evaluated with dynamic phantom imaging studies followed by imaging of a porcine model with cardiac and respiratory gating. The findings revealed minimal motion artifacts, confirming successful physiologic gated acquisition in stationary gantry cardiac CT, showing the potential of this imaging approach.