BioNM Lab

Profile

Main thematic areas
Nuclear Medicine, Construct phantoms, 3D printing & moulding, Automate phantoms’ motions, SPECT/CT acquisitions, Myocardial perfusion imaging, MPI artifacts
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Overview

The BioNM Lab's main objective is to optimize the diagnostic value of various nuclear medicine procedures in the framework of improving public health.

The research group consists of six faculty members, two postdoctoral research scientists and three PhD candidates with expertise in nuclear physics, manufacturing engineering, automation engineering, flow mechanics, databases, algorithm development and medical imaging.

The BioNM Lab collaborates with organizations such as the Nicosia General Hospital, the Limassol General Hospital, Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center, German Oncology Center, European University Cyprus, Cyprus Institute, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Kings College London.

The BioNM Lab's main activities are: 
  • Manufacturing human-like and shaped phantoms with precisely controlled motions for nuclear medicine,
  • Performing SPECT/CT & PET/CT acquisitions and image processing at the collaborating Nuclear Medicine Departments of Hospitals in Cyprus and abroad, following the clinical protocols and using the developed phantoms,
  • Performing quantitative analysis, and also evaluate the collaborating physicians’ diagnosis, using dedicated custom-made imaging software.
At the Lab, the following phantoms are available:
  • anthropomorphic thorax
  • human-like inflatable lungs
  • ECG beating and moving left ventricle, in the cranio-caudal direction, with variable sizes of cardiac defects
  • moving liver
  • anthropomorphic neck-thyroid with variable sizes of thyroid remnants
  • breast
Other phantoms can also be manufactured. For this purpose, 3d printers, design software, CNC machines and moulds are available.
 
For the motion of the phantoms, the following equipment and tools are available: 
  • Programmable logic controllers
  • Analog/digital extensions cards
  • Sensors (linear, rotary, pressure, flow, volume)
  • Electro-valves
  • Stepper/linear motors
  • Electric kits/devices (wiring/testing)
  • Vacuum/flow pumps
  • Mechanical calibration chambers
  • Various consumables
Also available are custom-made software/algorithms for:
  • The management of DICOM images (storage/retrieval)
  • Diagnosis of physicians
  • Dosimetry
  • Volume calculation of tumours
  • Partial volume correction
  • Triple-energy window scatter correction
PositionNameDepartmentResearch Domain
Lead researcher Dr Yiannis Parpottas Mechanical Engineering Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Medical Imaging
Team Member Dr Theodoros Leontiou Mechanical Engineering Algorithms development
Team Member Dr Antonios Lontos Mechanical Engineering 3D printing & moulding
Team Member  Dr Andreas Constantinides Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Informatics  Databases
Team Member Dr Pavlos Mavromatides Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Informatics Automation techniques
Team Member Dr Anastasia Hadjiconstanti   Medical Physics
Team Member Dr George Charitou   Experimental Physics
Team Member Sotiris Panagi   Automation techniques
Team Member Konstantinos Michael   Construct phantoms
Team Member Elena Ttofi   Develop algorithms
Start YearProject TitleLead Partner/ AssigneeFunding fromProject Website
2019 SPECT_THYROID - Optimizing the diagnostic value of postsurgical I-123 SPECT thyroid imaging and applying patient-specific dosimetry for radioiodine ablation for thyroid remnants Frederick Research Center Restart 2016-2020 https://bionuclearmed.com/spect-thyroid-project/
2019 MPI_LIVER - Optimizing the diagnostic value of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging under the influence of liver activity Frederick Research Center Restart 2016-2020 https://bionuclearmed.com/mpi_liver-project/
2019 Radiological concentrations of indoor radon in Cyprus Frederick University TEE14/2019 N/A
2012 Resp-MPI - Optimizing the diagnostic value of SPECT myocardial perfusion image under the influence of respiratory motions Frederick Research Center ΙΔΡΥΜΑ ΠΡΟΩΘΗΣΗΣ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ/ΔΕΣΜΗ 2011  https://bit.ly/3LUpavU
2010 Optimizing the diagnostic value in SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging Frederick Research Center ΙΔΡΥΜΑ ΠΡΟΩΘΗΣΗΣ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ/ΔΕΣΜΗ 2008 https://bit.ly/3OV2Ow9