Bo Zhang
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Abstract: Deciphering the functional and molecular complexities of the human brain requires highly precise imaging tools. The DigitMI i30 is an all-digital brain-dedicated PET system designed to provide high sensitivity and optimized performance for neurological imaging without the need for CT, thereby reducing radiation exposure. The system achieves a time-of-flight (TOF) resolution of 249 ps and a sensitivity of 22.1 cps/kBq, supporting high-quality and efficient brain imaging. This presentation describes the system design and its key clinical applications. CT-free attenuation correction approaches are presented, demonstrating robust quantitative performance. The advantages of brain-dedicated PET in epilepsy imaging are highlighted, particularly for accurate localization of epileptogenic foci. High-resolution visualization of small deep brain nuclei is demonstrated, enabled by the system’s dedicated geometry and enhanced sensitivity. In addition, ultra-fast dynamic imaging with temporal resolution down to 2 s per frame facilitates improved characterization of tracer kinetics and cerebral perfusion. Together, these results support a new paradigm for brain PET, enabling more accurate, low-dose, and quantitative neuroimaging.
Speaker: Mr. Bo Zhang is a PhD student at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). In 2014, he founded RAYSOLUTION to advance the industrialization of all-digital PET technology. Under his leadership, the company has become a leading high-end medical device enterprise and is recognized as one of China’s Top 500 “Invisible Unicorn” companies. He contributed to the formulation of China’s digital PET standards and to revising registration guidelines at the Center for Medical Device. He received the First Prize of the “Huang Jiasi Biomedical Engineering Technology Invention Award” in 2019 and was named “National Upward Good Youth” in 2020. He has filed 36 patents, published over 10 papers, and serves on committees of the China Instrument and Control Society and the Chinese Nuclear Society.