4D-M SPECT
A cardiac patient steps onto a treadmill. The pace and incline periodically increase until, finally, the patient is injected with a compound that traces heart blood flow. Using a technology called SPECT tomographic imaging, a computer then reconstructs and displays the patterns of heart blood flow and contractile function on a screen. These images, along with other data generated by the same software program, will be used to assess the heart and make a diagnosis.
Back in the mid 1980s, when nuclear medicine tomography was in its infancy, there was no way to quantify or display the inherently three-dimensional information. Instead, researchers were forced to work with planar, 2-D images.
Nuclear cardiologist Dr. James Corbett and colleague Dr. Tracy Faber at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas created the first commercially available computer application to generate quantitative 3-D displays of heart blood flow and function. Approximately ten years later, Corbett joined forces with UM colleague and research scientist Dr. Edward Ficaro to develop the next generation of this software program, called 4D-MSPECT.
As Dr. Corbett explains, "4D-MSPECT grew out of clinical and research needs for a tool to efficiently and realistically display and quantify gated tomographic studies of heart blood flow and mechanical function. In essence, we needed a technology that would give us access to the wide range of diagnostic information these studies can provide. We ultimately developed a sophisticated computer software application for cardiac nuclear medicine image display and analysis." Corbett and Ficaro have continued to enhance the software, integrating new functions such as automatic report generation and extensions to other imaging techniques such as cardiac PET imaging.
Working with representatives from Tech Transfer, Drs. Corbett and Ficaro licensed 4D-MSPECT to corporate giants such as General Electric, Siemens and Philips. "With assistance from the University, we were able to obtain FDA approval. We are now better able to adapt, develop and extend new technologies within a constantly changing, increasingly competitive environment."
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