Australian hi-tech company Micro-X (ASX:MX1), a leader in cold cathode x-ray technology for health and security markets globally, is pleased to announce its Head CT test bench has successfully generated CT images to complete the next milestone of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) programme.
Key points
- World-first production of full Head CT images using proprietary Micro-X miniature X-ray tube array, high voltage switching and imaging software
- Images show clinical detail and visualisation of brain anatomy
- MRFF Project milestone achieved - $0.5m payment due
- Micro-X Head CT measured to have one-third of the radiation dosage of a conventional stroke CT
- Commencing manufacture of hospital test benches enabling ethics approval application and
progress towards human clinical trials.
Micro-X has delivered CT images taken by its Head CT test bench showing the skull and soft tissue structure of the brain of an anthropomorphic head phantom. Clinical leads at the Australian Stroke Alliance (ASA) determined the images show detail of the sulci, ventricles and vascular anatomy in the supratentorial compartment. This marks a significant milestone achievement in the Head CT project, with an associated payment of $0.5m. The Company is now building hospital test benches that will support an application to the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Ethics Committee, with human clinical trials planned to commence in early 2025.
Radiation measurements under this milestone determined the effective dose to a patient from Micro-X Head CT imaging is around one third of a conventional head CT dose. This is well below annual radiation exposure limits for members of the general public.
“The significance of this achievement in developing a world-first mobile Head CT device should not be underestimated,” CEO, Kingsley Hall, said.
“The value of this technology goes beyond head imaging, enabling future opportunities including the next generation of full body CT imaging. We are committed to our purpose of creating revolutionary X-ray imaging that betters lives, and today’s achievement is another step forward in delivering on our promise.”
About the Micro-X Head CT
The Micro-X Head CT consists of a world-first array of Micro-X proprietary mini tubes, a novel curved detector, a rapid high-voltage switching control system and Micro-X’s compact high-voltage generator.
Micro-X has developed advanced high-voltage switching electronics that turn the mini-tube cathodes on and off in rapid succession at 100kV while the array is connected to Micro-X’s high-voltage generator. CT images are reconstructed using an in-house image software framework and novel adaptive deep scatter estimation algorithms to generate three dimensional images. This core technology underpins the development of Full Body CT for ARPA-H.
The next milestone involves the build of three hospital test systems with demonstrated full diagnostic image quality to progress ethics approvals and commence live human imaging.
Head CT opens up the pre-hospital point of care market for deployment in emergency response vehicles, as well as providing cost and space effective head CT imaging in Emergency Departments and neurological operating rooms.
