Development of a New Technology Revealing the Finest Details Inside the Human Body Using a Remarkable Material

A joint research team from Northwestern University (USA) and Soochow University (China) has developed an advanced detector based on the perovskite material. It is the first of its kind capable of capturing individual gamma photons, paving the way for more accurate and efficient single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) techniques than conventional models.

According to the team, this detector opens new horizons in the field of nuclear medicine, as perovskite has demonstrated exceptional performance in terms of energy resolution and single-signal detection. This breakthrough marks a qualitative leap toward the next generation of imaging systems.

The study results showed that the detector could distinguish between different energy levels of gamma rays with high precision. It was also able to detect extremely faint signals from a commonly used medical diagnostic radioisotope, technetium-99m, which made it possible to produce highly detailed images that differentiate between radiation sources only a few millimeters apart.

In addition, the detector displayed remarkable stability during operation and was able to capture radioactive signals with high efficiency, without interference or loss. This means that it could potentially reduce either the examination time or the radiation dose required for patients, without compromising result quality.

Professor Mercouri Kanatzidis, lead researcher from Northwestern University, stated:
“Perovskite, which has transformed solar energy technology, is now showing promising potential in the field of nuclear medicine. What we have achieved is the first practical proof of its ability to generate accurate, high-quality images that doctors can reliably use in diagnosing patients.”