Associate Professorship of Medical Radiation Physics (Prof. Wilkens)

Course with Participations of Group Members

Offers for Theses in the Group

Optimization of Dual Energy CT in small animal computed tomography at MRI

Introduction:

Computed tomography is a three-dimensional imaging method in which X-rays can be used to calculate slices of an object. Dual Energy CT uses the energy dependence of X-rays: The respective object is measured with different X-ray spectra, and the images obtained are subsequently processed and reconstructed. With the help of different algorithms, Dual Energy CT can extract much more information from the image than conventional imaging (monoenergetic images, electron density, material images, ...). Dual Energy CT devices are in use in human medicine since a few years; in this work the method is used on a small animal irradiation device for mice. Our dual energy method uses a calibration using calibration cylinders and two different X-ray spectra.

 

Tasks:

The master thesis focuses on the optimization of X-ray spectra and calibration and its effect on the measurement. When choosing the X-ray spectra, many combinations are possible by using different voltages and filters. The optimal combinations should be found by using different criteria and verified with a phantom. The calibration cylinders should be examined and improved with regard to their geometry and material. It should also be considered whether different calibration phantoms are advantageous for different measurement objects. Furthermore, it should be checked how stable the calibration is depending on the position in the device and the time. In all optimizations, the focus is on ensuring that the subsequent measurement of the object provides the most accurate possible result.

 

Requirements:

You are interested in medical physics, especially in X-ray diagnostics/radiotherapy?

You like to work experimentally and can imagine working in a clean room?

You have basic experience with Python and enjoy programming?

Contact:

Manuela Duda

manuela.duda@tum.de

Medical Radiation Physics / Prof. Wilkens

Klinikum rechts der Isar (MRI)

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics

Supervisor: Jan Jakob Wilkens

Current and Finished Theses in the Group