Quantitative imaging of the structure and function of the heart, lungs, and circulation.

A 28-x-ray-source, cylindrical-scanning, transaxial tomographic x-ray-imaging system is in the process of being fabricated. This system will scan synchronously up to 250 parallel transverse cross sections of the human body over an axial range of 25 cm within 0.01 second at a maximum rate of 60 scans per second. The system will provide numerous variations of scanning configurations to permit quantitative assessment of the relative importance of transverse section thickness, image contrast, spatial and temporal resolution, and related computerized algorithms and display techniques. Synchronous imaging at high temporal resolution of a three-dimensional volume--for example, the heart--eliminates the need for successive periods of breath-holding and gated imaging techniques and is essential for quantitation of cardiovascular and pulmonary function and structure in intact animals or humans. Initial clinical applications are expected to be in the early detection of lung cancer and the diagnosis of the nature and degree of congenital and acquired cardiovascular disabilities.