This project is developing an improved data communication solution for computer tomography. This will shorten scanning times and reduce the maintenance costs of the devices. In the future, it will be possible to process higher data rates from new generations of sensors.
With over 75 million scans per year, computed tomography (CT) plays a central role in medical diagnostics worldwide. Current CTs generate image data rates of up to several 100 Gbit/s. This data must be transferred from the rotating to the stationary part of the CT scanner with maximum reliability, safety and availability. Existing technologies have a high mechanical complexity (slip ring systems) and do not offer enough capacity for future higher resolutions or faster data processing.
Wireless transmission using many parallel data streams has proven to be very promising. Project A1 is a prototype technical challenge for SEMECO: a feasibility study is being carried out to replace data transmission in CT scanners using mechanically complex slip rings with scalable wireless data transmission. By integrating a wireless communication solution instead of wear-prone and complex slip ring systems, the reliability and speed of CT systems is increased. This results in improved medical care for people, which is particularly relevant in emergency situations and life-threatening circumstances. By dispensing with mechanical components, the service life of the devices is extended and frequent maintenance and failures due to defects are avoided. This reduces the maintenance costs of the devices and at the same time increases the reliability of the diagnostic processes. Extended usability also means resource-saving and environmentally conscious management. A communication prototype will be developed at the end of the project. This will provide a good basis and expertise for the next phase, in which a communication system for a functioning CT prototype is to be developed.
Dr. Padmanava Sen
Research Group Leader RF Design Enablement, Barkhausen Institut GmbH
- Michael Hosemann | Siemens Healthineers AG
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Juliana Panchenko| Fraunhofer-Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM, All Silicon System Integration Center Dresden (IZM-ASSID)
- Dr.-Ing. Friedrich Burmeister | TUD Dresden University of Technology, Vodafone Chair for Mobile Communication Systems
