From the Higgs–Boson to Molecular Radiology

Abstract

This paper delves into the history of MARS photon-counting CT and its technology origins in particle physics at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The story begins at CERN, a world-class facility for research into fundamental physics. In the 1960s, charged particle experiments at CERN involved the slow and labor-intensive work of examining millions of photographs from bubble or spark chambers. In the 1970s, semiconductor detector technology changed nuclear and particle physics, and the world at large. As its name implies, semiconductor material conducts current, but this current can be modified, especially by a quantum of light or other radiation. During the development of semiconductor detector technology, the potential benefit of detecting X-ray photons became evident, leading to the development of the Medipix family of imaging devices in the 1990s. In the early 2000s, researchers from New Zealand took the Medipix detector and began to research and develop spectral molecular imaging for the clinic. Their work produced the MARS photon-counting CT, which promises to significantly advance current CT, develop a new standard of care, and improve health outcomes for millions of patients world-wide. Taking MARS to the clinic will be discussed, including investigation of potential clinical applications and the future direction of MARS technology.