Real-time precision radiation for stronger, shorter, more effective cancer treatments

The Elekta Synergy L5 Linac with MLCi and MK6 iViewGT Control System tracks the movements and monitors changes in shape of the target and surrounding organs in order to modify radiation beams to protect organs at risk and surrounding tissue.

Improved image quality and localization

Answering to clinical needs in oncology, neurology, cardiology, and radiology, Siemens Healthineers develops scanners for molecular imaging as the Symbia SPECT/CT to help clinicians to diagnose, treat, and monitor diseases more confidently.

In just a single examination with the Symbia SPECT/CT, the intrinsic combined SPECT and CT images provide a more complete picture of a patient allowing quick decisions that results in successful treatment strategies. Shortening the time to reach diagnosis with this hybrid imaging modality leads to better and effective care as well as a more satisfying experience for all.

Live cell imaging with fluorescent microscopes

The CytoSMART LUX3 FL is a small fluorescence live-cell imaging microscope equipped with one brightfield and two fluorescent channels (green and red). The device enables researchers to unravel cellular processes in real-time. The CytoSMART Exact FL is a fluorescent microscope to accurately quantifies organoid numbers and is able to assess the morphology of organoids in great detail.

Application

Our researchers have successfully grown organoids from humans and from different species such as dogs, cats, sheep, chickens, cows, pigs and mice. Now, our two CytoSMART LUX3 FL microscopes enable them to simultaneously track living cells that are exposed to different culture conditions and treatments. By using algorithms, combined with high quality images that are converted into time-lapse video, dynamic cell processes can be studied in detail. For instance, by tracking the effect of medication on patient-specific organoids in real-time, they can develop methods that allow precision medicine in both human and veterinary patients.

Comprehensive eye tracking data for behavioral studies in real-life settings

Tobii Pro Glasses 3 has been designed to deliver comprehensive eye tracking data at a variety of gaze angles. The integration of the illuminators and eye cameras into the lenses removes obstruction to the wearer’s vision, while the wide-angle scene camera allows gaze data to be recorded over a larger field of view. This means the wearer can see more and the system can capture more, which is useful for research involving tasks were participants need to look down and up regularly, or if the subject matter covers a large area within the wearer’s field of view.

Application

Our researchers conduct eye tracking studies in lameness perception of veterinarians and animal owners examining horses and dogs.

On-demand compliant drug compounding for personalized treatments

Curify is set to transform personalized drug manufacturing through it’s digital and automated TailoredCure technology based on 3D printing. Curify offers a ‘Medicine as a Service’ concept for pharmacies and veterinarians which saves time and delivers better and sustainable future treatments to pets.

An affordable and simple MRI scanner

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most powerful technologies ever developed for examining the inside of the body in detail without surgery. Unfortunately, MRI scanners are expensive and difficult to operate and maintain. Consequently, patients and doctors in many parts of the world have little or no access to this technology. Therefore, Andrew Webb, Professor of MRI Physics at Leiden University Medical Centre, and his team, have developed an affordable and simple MRI scanner, which now will be validated at UTOMIC.

The magnet is based on a Halbach geometry was optimized to produce a magnetic field that is as homogeneous as possible, with conventional spatial encoding using three gradient coils. The Halbach system contains 2948 individual 12 mm permanent magnets, and produces a field of ~50 mT system with has a homogeneity of 2400 ppm after passive shimming, measured over a 200 mm diameter-spherical-volume. The Halbach design means that there is essentially no stray magnetic field, and so equipment and personnel can operate in close proximity. The gradient coils are designed via an analytical target field approach with coil efficiencies of 0.37 and 0.8 mTm-1A-1 for the axial and transverse coils, respectively. These coils consist of copper conductors pressed into 3D printed cylindrical formers. The RF coils is a segmented solenoid formed from Litz wire. The RF and gradient amplifiers have been designed in collaboration with the TU Delft. The console/spectrometer used is a Kea 2 system (Magritek GmbH, Aachen, Germany). This operates over a frequency range of 1-100 MHz. Direct digital synthesis is used on the transmit side, with signal reception being at a fixed 100 MHz oversampled frequency, with 16-bit resolution, followed by decimation and digital filtering to the desired acquisition bandwidth. An inbuilt preamplifier has a gain of 37 dB and noise figure <1.5 dB: a passive duplexer is used as a transmit/receive switch. We use three of the four gradient driver modules, which have a +/- 10 volt output with 16-bit resolution. One of the eight TTL outputs is used to blank/unblank the RF amplifier. Imaging sequences were written in Prospa, which is a proprietary programming code very similar to C++: the timing resolution on instructions is 100 ns. All timing is controlled by a central 1 GHz clock.