ST. LOUIS — Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis demonstrated a portable point-of-care PET system capable of real-time interactive imaging during a 2026 study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Annual Meeting. The system delivers high-quality molecular imaging at the bedside and can guide interventional procedures such as biopsies and tumor ablations in constrained clinical environments.
The portable PET technology features a robotic arm that positions detector panels at arbitrary locations to image any organ of interest. In the study, researchers moved the detector panels to six user-selected positions while scanning a phantom containing three clusters of radiotracer-filled rods. Image reconstruction began with five iterations using data from the first position, followed by alternating single-iteration updates as data from each new position became available.
Data acquisition took longer than reconstruction, enabling continuous image updates during the scan. Phantom structures became clearly distinguishable after three to four detector positions, suggesting that scanning could be terminated early once imaging goals are met. The image quality achieved through this real-time updating framework was comparable to that of a conventional PET reconstruction method, which generates images only after the full scan is complete.
Current interventional procedures primarily rely on anatomical imaging tools like ultrasound, x-ray fluoroscopy, and CT. While PET/CT-guided interventions offer higher accuracy, the technology is cost-prohibitive and not widely accessible. The portable point-of-care PET system presents a more cost-effective alternative that brings molecular imaging capabilities directly to the patient.
"This proposed approach better supports interactive and adaptive imaging workflows at the bedside," said Xiyan Li, a graduate researcher in the Imaging Science doctoral program at Washington University in St. Louis. "It represents a paradigm shift that offers new avenues to deploy novel molecular imaging applications." Li added.
The study used a benchtop prototype system. Researchers are now building a version suitable for initial human imaging studies, which are scheduled to begin in 2027. Yuan-Chuan Tai, PhD, of Washington University in St. Louis, served as senior author of the research.