High-average-power all-solid-state lasers based on new crystalline Raman materials. We have recently made significant advances in development of all-solid-state intracavity Raman lasers generating multiwatt average powers in the near infrared and (by frequency doubling) visible spectrum, with important applications in biomedicine and remote sensing. A new generation of Raman crystals, especially tungstates, offer superior optical, mechanical and thermal properties, promising high Raman gains and ....High-average-power all-solid-state lasers based on new crystalline Raman materials. We have recently made significant advances in development of all-solid-state intracavity Raman lasers generating multiwatt average powers in the near infrared and (by frequency doubling) visible spectrum, with important applications in biomedicine and remote sensing. A new generation of Raman crystals, especially tungstates, offer superior optical, mechanical and thermal properties, promising high Raman gains and choice of Stokes frequency shift. The project will investigate a range of key issues for these materials including control of the Stokes wavelength, associated polarisation control, and pump-resonator configurations giving maximum Raman laser power and efficiency. The project will lead to state-of-the-art source technology with outstanding prospects for commercialisation and practical application.Read moreRead less
Novel Transmission Scanning and Computational Strategies for Quantitative microPET Imaging. Advances in detector technologies have led to the development and commercialisation of small animal imaging systems such as microPET which provide high resolution images of radioactive compounds in live animals, but the images can only be interpreted qualitatively. Our aim is to develop quantitative technologies for these new imaging systems. Major outcomes will include novel methods of measuring and corr ....Novel Transmission Scanning and Computational Strategies for Quantitative microPET Imaging. Advances in detector technologies have led to the development and commercialisation of small animal imaging systems such as microPET which provide high resolution images of radioactive compounds in live animals, but the images can only be interpreted qualitatively. Our aim is to develop quantitative technologies for these new imaging systems. Major outcomes will include novel methods of measuring and correcting for signal loss due to photon interactions in the body and integrated image reconstruction algorithms. This will lead to a new generation of quantitative imaging devices; the new technologies will be directly translatable to clinical imaging systems and will broaden the range of microPET applications in the life sciences.Read moreRead less
X-Tream: A Realtime X-ray Treatment Monitoring And Dosimetry System For Submillimetric Radiosurgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,544.00
Summary
We plan to develop a commercial prototype of a new clinical product called X-Tream, together with pre-clinical experimental and Monte Carlo data to demonstrate its performance in one potential clinical application involving an exciting and rapidly developing radiosurgery technique known as microbeam radiation therapy. We intend to show that the X-Tream system has the demonstrated ability to provide essential measurements with the necessary accuracy to allow for future clinical trials.
Imaging the invisible. This project aims to develop imaging technology to see and quantify objects normally invisible with X-rays. It will develop an X-ray imaging system that should provide orders of magnitude greater sensitivity to subtle changes in material composition than conventional radiography. It will devise quantitative image analysis tools for isolating specific materials of interest from complex multi-material samples, including low density components that often go undetected. Indust ....Imaging the invisible. This project aims to develop imaging technology to see and quantify objects normally invisible with X-rays. It will develop an X-ray imaging system that should provide orders of magnitude greater sensitivity to subtle changes in material composition than conventional radiography. It will devise quantitative image analysis tools for isolating specific materials of interest from complex multi-material samples, including low density components that often go undetected. Industries that could benefit significantly from this technology include airport security, the mining sector, agriculture, manufacturing quality control, and biomedical researchers studying anatomical form and function.Read moreRead less
Non-destructing X-ray testing. This project aims to improve imaging with X-rays, providing better image quality with higher throughput at a lower radiation dose. It will develop an X-ray imaging system that provides orders of magnitude greater sensitivity for detecting low-density objects that are often invisible with conventional X-ray scanners, and quantitative image analysis tools that can isolate materials from complex multi-material samples and detect individual chemical elements. Significa ....Non-destructing X-ray testing. This project aims to improve imaging with X-rays, providing better image quality with higher throughput at a lower radiation dose. It will develop an X-ray imaging system that provides orders of magnitude greater sensitivity for detecting low-density objects that are often invisible with conventional X-ray scanners, and quantitative image analysis tools that can isolate materials from complex multi-material samples and detect individual chemical elements. Significant benefits from these technologies are expected in industries including airport security, mining, agriculture, manufacturing quality control, and in research fields from medicine to geology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454184
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$155,792.00
Summary
Silicon Imaging Device Construction Facility - Wirebonder. The development of state-of-the-art, high precision semiconductor imaging devices (for high energy particle physics, synchrotron science and medical imaging ) requires a significant capability in modern assembly facilities. In constructing test and 'production' modules consisting of fine-grained, multi-channel bare silicon or other semiconductor imaging devices and custom electronic chips, a high-reliability, highly flexible wire-bonding ....Silicon Imaging Device Construction Facility - Wirebonder. The development of state-of-the-art, high precision semiconductor imaging devices (for high energy particle physics, synchrotron science and medical imaging ) requires a significant capability in modern assembly facilities. In constructing test and 'production' modules consisting of fine-grained, multi-channel bare silicon or other semiconductor imaging devices and custom electronic chips, a high-reliability, highly flexible wire-bonding machine is an essential tool. The international reputation from success in several challenging projects under difficult conditions, gained by the Chief Investigators has resulted in several more projects being planned in addition to a foreseen program of device development. A modern wirebonder, to replace the existing 30 year-old machine, has become critical to maintain our leading position in this area.Read moreRead less
Novel imaging technologies for continuous measurement of tracer kinetics in awake animals. The fates of biologically relevant molecules, such as proteins and antibodies, in the body are fundamentally important for understanding the mechanisms and treatment of disease. This project will enable for the first time continuous imaging of the location and time course of labelled molecules in conscious, freely moving animals.
Cancer Imaging And Targeted Radiation Therapy: From Discovery To Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,114,215.00
Summary
This program will create a new pipeline of cancer imaging and targeted radiotherapy medical devices, translating discoveries to new first-in-world clinical trials and engaging with industry to see these innovations used in broad clinical practice. The research is applicable to all major cancer types and radiation therapy is essential for cancer cure and symptom control for half of all cancer patients, success means a global real-world impact on the lives of millions of cancer patients.
Development Of An Intra-Operative Tool For Tumour Margin Assessment During Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$599,472.00
Summary
The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a surgical probe that uses novel terahertz technology to guide surgical excision. As an example, approximately 3,000 breast cancer patients per year require a second surgical procedure because of tumour identified close to the edge of tissue removed during surgery. There is a clinical need for an accurate, real-time and non-destructive technique to assess tumour margins during surgery. This tool could also be used for any surgery that requir ....The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a surgical probe that uses novel terahertz technology to guide surgical excision. As an example, approximately 3,000 breast cancer patients per year require a second surgical procedure because of tumour identified close to the edge of tissue removed during surgery. There is a clinical need for an accurate, real-time and non-destructive technique to assess tumour margins during surgery. This tool could also be used for any surgery that requires preservation of normal tissue.Read moreRead less
Dark-field: A new kind of x-ray imaging. This project aims to develop new x-ray imaging capabilities that look inside an object and map out those details that are too small to be seen directly, by extracting the dark-field which is produced as x-ray light scatters. Dark-field images can reveal tiny cracks in manufactured parts, discover powdered explosives or drugs during security screening, and detect changes in the size of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs. Expected outcomes of this project ....Dark-field: A new kind of x-ray imaging. This project aims to develop new x-ray imaging capabilities that look inside an object and map out those details that are too small to be seen directly, by extracting the dark-field which is produced as x-ray light scatters. Dark-field images can reveal tiny cracks in manufactured parts, discover powdered explosives or drugs during security screening, and detect changes in the size of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs. Expected outcomes of this project include new instruments and methods of analysis that will allow x-ray dark-field imaging to be quantitative and widely adopted. These methods should benefit non-invasive multi-scale imaging at the Australian Synchrotron and equip x-ray imaging in industry, security and healthcare.Read moreRead less