| In medical imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can provide specific functional information while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide high-spatial resolution anatomical information as well as complementary functional information. The fusion of both systems supplements the shortcoming of an individual system and makes synergy. We have focused to combine MR/SPECT and MR scintimammography (SMM) systems. However, MR-based multimodality imaging systems, such as MRSPECT and MR positron emission tomography (PET), face many difficulties because of problems with the compatibility of the nuclear detector system with the MR system. In this dissertation, we developed and evaluated a new radiofrequency (RF) coil and gamma-ray radiation shielding assembly to advance the practical implementation of MRSPECT in providing high sensitivity while minimize the interference between the MRI and SPECT systems as well as we constructed a specialized breast coil and a transmitter coil to be able to interface with cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) nuclear radiation detector and placed within a whole-body 4T MRI system for MRSMM system. Various phantom experiments characterized the interaction between the SPECT (SMM) and MRI hardware components. Overall, our results demonstrate that accurate, SPECT and MRI data acquisition is feasible, justifying the further development of MRSPECT for either small-animal imaging or whole-body human systems by using appropriate components, feasible to be SMM and MRI data acquisition. |
