Regional Blood Volume(NEI)

The FuncTool Option is designed to Provide Advanced Image Post Processing using Ten Different Advanced Algorithms. The Operator Interface is designed to be Technologist Friendly and to Provide Ease of Use and excellent Reproducibility.

Results are displayed in a variety of formats including Parametric Image Overlays and Color Maps of results.

Note: Only applicable for Signa LX Version 9.0 Software!


Diffusion Weighted Image

Features:

The FuncTool option Provided the following Advanced Image processing Options:


Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) Maps

  • Compatible with Isotropic Diffusion Weighted Images
  • Provides Exponential ADC maps and Conventional ADC Maps.
  • Eliminates the effects of T2 Shine-through and Provide Added Diagnostic Information to the EchoPlus Package.


Mean Time to Enhance(MTE)

Proton Spectroscopy Parametric Metabolite Maps

  • Compatible with Multi-Voxel Proton Spectroscopy
  • Color Parametric Metabolite Maps that can be Overlayed on Standard images for Anatomical Reference.
  • Spectra from Individual Voxels can be displayed and Documented.


Correlation Coefficients

  • Compatible with Susceptibility Weighted EPI Acquisitions.
  • Can be used to Correlate Periodic Changes in Blood Flow to Different areas of the Brain that are associated with Specific Task Activation Patient Paradigms.
  • Potential Applications include Motor Strip Mapping as well as mapping Visual/Auditory Stimuli and other Cognitive Functions.


Negative Enhancement Integral (NEI)

  • Compatible with Dynamic EPI Scans acquired during the First Pass of a Contrast injection.
  • Produces a Color Map of the Susceptibility Effect Caused by the Flow of Blood Containing Contrast.
  • Can Provide Information that is useful in the diagnosis of Stroke, Recurrent Tumor, Radiation Necrosis and more.


Mean Time to Enhance (MTE)

  • Compatible with Dynamic EPI Scans acquired during the First Pass of a Contrast bolus injection.
  • Produces a Color Map based on the Arrival Time Contrast in Different Regions of the Brain or other Anatomy.
  • Can Provide Information that is useful in the Diagnosis of Stroke, Recurrent Tumor, Radiation Necrosis and more.


Positive Enhancement Integral

  • Compatible with Contrast Enhanced Dynamic Acquisitions
  • Produces a Color Map of Contrast Enhancement rates due to increases in SNR due to increased concentration of Contrast material in Specific tissues
  • Can be useful in Characterizing some types of Pathology based on rates of contrast uptake by the lesion for breast imaging and abdominal imaging


Other Algorithms Include:

  • Signal Enhancement Ratio
  • Maximum Slope of Increase
  • Maximum Difference Function
  • Difference Function


"FuncTool gives users a great deal of Physiological information about the brain perfusion, such as relative cerebral blood volume and mean time to enhance.

It Can be used to generate parametric fMRI maps corresponding to task-activation studies, for use in pre-surgical planning for patients with acute stroke and tumors.

By eliminating T2 Shine-through artifacts in diffusion-weighted imaging, it permits more comprehensive diagnosis of stroke and other lesions.

In addition, FuncTool’s Spectrum Processing capability allows users to generate maps of metabolites such as Lactate, NAA, Choline, Creatine and their ratios from multi-voxel spectro data acquisitions. The result is a wealth of information on the biochemical changes associated with various disease states."

Dr. Karthik Kuppusamy
Manager of Neuro
Applications for GE Medical Systems


Benefits of FuncTool:

The FuncTool Software Package is a General Post-Processing Tool for Dynamic (i.e. Temporarily Resolved) Image Data Sets. FuncTool Facilitates Convenient Viewing of Time-Intensity Plots on a Pixel-by-Pixel or Region-of-Interest Basis. The FuncTool Package Also Permits Formation of Color Parametric Images From User-Specified Processing Algorithms, and Overlay of Color Parametric Images on to Anatomical Reference Images.

Perquisites:

  • Signa LX 8.3 Software
  • or Advantage Windows 4.0 Workstation


Recommended Options:

  • Color Monitor
  • EchoPlus Diffusion Pagkage
  • Probe2000 Spectroscopy
  • Color Printer