Gamma Ray Lens Feasibility Study

Ganuna (7)-ray lenses are an advanced technology currently under development at Argonne National Laboratory for arms control application. The purpose of this proposal is to address whether y-ray lens technology can enable an improved system for imaging radioactive isotopes in patients. In nuclear medicine, it is often desirable to generate a y-ray image that shows the exact areas where an emitting isotope is located. The motivation for proposing a y-ray lens for radionucide imaging is the potentially significant advantages that it may provide over existing technology, specifically in terms of superior image resolution, reduced radioactive dose to the patient, and cost. The proposed effort will develop the conceptual design of a y-ray lens system for radioactive isotope imaging, predict its performance, estimate its cost, and compare it with existing nuclear medicine imaging technology. The questions this work will answer are: (1) Does the y-lens provide better resolution than existing systems? (2) Does they-lens efficiency enable lower radioactive doses to be administered to patients? (3) Can the y-lens system be built sufficiently compact to fit within existing treatment facilities? The answers to these questions will establish the practical feasibility of 7-ray lenses for imaging radioactive isotopes in patients. Anticipated Benefits: The anticipated benefits of a y-ray lens system for radioisotope imaging include: superior imaging, less patient exposure to radioactive dose, and cost savings. There are also a number of other potential conu-nercial applications of y-ray lenses, including angiography optics (cardiac imaging), arms control instrumentation, and cancer therapy. This proposed effort will determine whether y-lens technology is commercially feasible for these.