Omni-tomography: Next-generation Biomedical Imaging

TL;DR

Omni-tomography aims to unify multiple imaging modalities into a single system for comprehensive, real-time biomedical imaging, enhancing diagnosis and understanding of complex physiological processes.

Contribution

This paper introduces the concept of omni-tomography, discusses its theoretical foundation, technological feasibility, and potential applications in medical diagnostics.

Findings

Feasibility of CT-MRI scanner demonstrated

Potential for comprehensive physiological imaging

Enhanced diagnosis of complex diseases

Abstract

Omni-tomography is enabled by interior tomography that has been developed over the past five years. By omni-tomography, we envision that the next stage of biomedical imaging will be the grand fusion of many tomographic modalities into a single gantry (all in one) for simultaneous data acquisition of numerous complementary features (all at once). This integration has great synergistic potential for development of systems biology, personalized and preventive medicine, because many physiological processes are dynamic and complicated, and must be observed promptly, comprehensively, sensitively, specifically, and non-invasively. In this perspective, we first present the background for and power of omni-tomography, then discuss its important applications in vulnerable plaque characterization and intratumor heterogeneity evaluation, review its enabling theory and technology, explain for the first time the feasibility of the CT-MRI scanner as an example, and finally suggest exciting research opportunities.