Interventional SPECT/CT for Radioembolization

Current SPECT/CT scanners are not suitable for guiding interventional procedures involving the administration of radionuclides in a patient. These scanners are too large and not flexible enough to smoothly integrate into the intervention room.

Hence, the radionuclide distributions obtained in these procedures can currently only be evaluated after the interventional procedure is finished, resulting in sub-optimal treatment outcomes.

To address this problem, we have developed a SPECT/CT scanner optimized for use in the intervention room so that the monitoring of the radionuclides can instead be done ‘live’ during the procedure.

For one specific interventional procedure in which radionuclides are injected, radioembolization for the treatment of liver cancer, our interventional scanner can: 1) improve tumor kill by real-time feedback on the tumor doses, 2) minimize adverse effects by early detection of unwanted targeting of healthy tissue, 3) improve patient comfort by shortening the procedure, and 4) as a result reduce the cost for society.

Fundamental research for the development of the interventional scanner was performed in the previously granted ERC CoG. In this ERC Proof of Concept, we will investigate the commercialization of our device.

This will be achieved by initiating three routes in parallel: 1) demonstrating the scanner performance in a promising interventional radionuclide therapy treatment (radioembolization), 2) determining our intellectual property rights position and strategy, and 3) performing a thorough market and competitor analysis with feedback from the market.

These results will be combined to form a business strategy for commercialization with which to engage with commercial partners.

These actions could result in the mass-production of the interventional scanner, which can benefit thousands of patients worldwide.