Foreign Collaborators

Dieter Dude, Philips, Netherlands;

Aoyama Hitoshi, Toshiba, Japan;

Fukuchi Mikiharu, Toshiba, Japan.

№ - 178 Hollow Anode with Liquid-Metallic Filling Material for X-Ray Tubes

Full Title:	Development of a Hollow Anode with Liquid-Metallic Filling Material for Medical Diagnostic X-Ray Tubes
Technology Field(s):	BIO-RAD: Biotechnology and Life Sciences / Radiobiology MAT-ALL: Materials / High Performance Metals and Alloys

Contributors

Victor A Zaznoba

NPO Lutch 24, Zheleznodorozhnaya str., Podolsk, Moscow reg., 142100, Russia Phone: 7+095+1379876 Fax: 7+096+9013457 luch@adis.msk.su

Present Status of Research

Brief Description of Research

At present new anode constructions the potential possibilities of which are high appeared side by side with the anode constructions (bimetallic, combined) that have been studied well and are being used widely. One of these constructions is an anode construction the hollow of which is filled with liquid metal. Application of liquid metal allows to increase the efficient value of anode thermal conductivity considerably and, therefore, to reduce the operating anode temperatures and ensure more uniform temperature distribution along the anode. Reduction of the operating anode temperatures allows to consider the question concerning substitution of the anode substrate material (Mo) for a lighter and cheaper one, and more uniform temperature distribution enables to decrease tungsten coating stresses. Additionally, the hollow filled with liquid metal reduces the total anode weight.

The project aim is to develop the construction of a hollow anode with liquid-metallic filling material, which enables to increase service life and intensity of X-radiation of X-ray tubes for medical application.

It is supposed that the following work will be carried out in the project: — optimized calculations for the purpose of selecting shape, dimensions and position of the hollow as well as structural materials and liquids filling the hollow; — determination of the conditions for more efficient application of the developed anode taking into account economic advisability; — construction development and anode production; — testing under beam load and comparison of the obtained results with the data for the anodes of traditional constructions.

Legal Aspects No patents.

Special Facilities

Anode test under beam load will be carried out on an electron-beam rig intended for X-ray tube tests.

Scientific Papers

M.L. Taubin, Y.V. Nikolaev, V.I. Vibivanets et al. Anodes of powerful X-ray tubes. International symposium “Development of medical equipment technology converted from weapons science”, Podolsk, 19-23, February, 1996, p.202-204.

Foreign Collaborators Brian D. Lounsberry, GEMS, USA.

№ - 179 Database on Cytological Images of Tumors

Full Title:	A Database on Cytological Images of Tumors of the Head/Neck, and Especially, of the Thyroid Gland
Technology Field(s):	BIO-CGM: Biotechnology and Life Sciences / Cytology, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Contributors

Victor N Fedoseyev	NPO Lutch 24, Zheleznodorozhnaya str., Podolsk, Moscow reg., 142100, Russia Phone: 7+096+7537648 Fax: 7+095+1379384 fvn@luch.pgts.msk.ru
Oleg I Shanin	NPO Lutch 24, Zheleznodorozhnaya str., Podolsk, Moscow reg., 142100, Russia Phone: 7+096+7537648 Fax: 7+095+1379384 oshanin@luch.pgts.msk.ru

Present Status of Research

Brief Description of Research

Abbreviations:

NPO Lutch or SIA "Lutch" — Science & Technology Association "Lutch", Podolsk;

Cytology is a reliable method for diagnosing neoplasm’s. The advantages of this method are (1) material can be obtained from sites that are either hard to reach, completely unapproachable, or undesirable for biopsy sampling; (2) the method is non-traumatic , absolutely non-hazardous to the patient, and examinations can be carried out simply and expeditiously. These features make this method promising for examination of risk groups, which sometimes constitute a significant proportion of the population. The method includes application of the specimen being examined to glass, staining the specimen, and analyzing related cytological patterns under a light microscope. The capabilities of the diagnostics are governed by the hardware tools (quality of the microscope, specimen and stain) and the cytologist’s skill. To train cytologists and develop computer-assisted methods for processing the cytological images, a decision was made in 1994 to create a computer database of cytological images of malignant tumors of the soft tissues and bones. The database was planned to be created on the basis of the biological archives of CRC RAMS with the financial support of ISTC. Within the framework of Project #052, several versions of a workplace for image input from microscope and computer, the required procedures and software, and a database on all the major clinical entity groups of the soft tissues and bones were created. The chosen tissue types are of undoubted interest in research because of the rarity of the material; in 1995, there were 2.4 cases per 100,000 population (in Russia, 2.6 cases; in Europe, 3.2 cases).

The suggested work is a subsequent development of Project #052 and is aimed at upgrading the quality of the images, the addition of other lesion sites (head/neck, and above all, the thyroid gland), and increasing the accessibility of the digitized image archives by releasing it on CD-ROM. Data on the thyroid gland are of predominant value, considering the huge amount of material collected after the Chernobyl accident (irradiation by iodine isotopes). A danger existing at practically all large nuclear plants, which has not yet been completely studied, is the long-term effect of small radiation doses accumulating in the human organism. Moreover, thyroid pathology is an indicator of environmental problems within a given region. According to WHO data, thyroid gland cancer is more widespread (as compared to tumors of the soft tissues and bones) and constituted 1.2% of the oncological disease structure in Russia in 1994. Of special interest is the abnormally high rate of thyroid cancer in juvenile and adolescent age groups in the regions affected by the Chernobyl accident.

The uniqueness of the database of cytological images of the tissues being considered is based above all on the abundance of material presented. In some cases, histological and x-ray images will also be introduced into the database.

Legal Aspects

The database will be established on the basis of the abundant biological archives of CRC and MRRC RAMS, which were formed over a long period of time from materials from all of regions of the former Soviet Union.

Special Facilities

The cytological procedures used are quite standard. Specifically, Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (NAC) is used to examine the thyroid gland. Staining (Leishman Stain) and drying of the specimens are carried out with an automated programmable device, the HMS 70 Slide Stainer (Microm), installed at the cytology lab at CRC RAMS. Most cytological diagnoses are verified using histological or immunological methods. To digitize the images, the following have already been purchased: a Leica DMLS light microscope, a Panasonic GP-US502E 3CCD high-resolution camera, and a Matrix Comet frame-grabber. Experience has been obtained during the acquisition of thousands of images. The authors have developed a computer program for operation with digital archives (DAFMI). All of this is an indication of the methodological purity of the results obtained, the availability of the main hardware, and the readiness to start the work. Of course, some extra equipment will also be required (computers, scanners for films, etc.).