# PennPET Explorer Scanner With Scalable Axial Length for Total Body PET Imaging

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $599,358

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
We propose to create an academic-industry partnership to develop commercially viable large-volume PET/CT
scanners with a long axial field-of-view that will serve a wide range of applications in cancer from specialized
clinical practice to advanced imaging biomarker research in clinical trials. The instrument will be scalable and
offer the user a choice of axial field-of-view (AFOV) ranging from 70 cm to 210 cm. We propose an approach
based on 70 cm axial segment lengths to provide optimal performance for the specific imaging tasks ranging
from limited organ systems (e.g., lungs and heart) and pediatric torso imaging (one 70 cm segment) to full
torso total-body adult imaging (2 - 3 segments or 140 - 210 cm). A 70 cm AFOV system, in particular, would
provide a cost-effective size for pediatric patients with significant radiation dose reductions and reduced scan
times for this population and a cost comparable to a PET/MR with standard AFOV. To achieve this goal we will
create a partnership between the University of Pennsylvania, Philips Healthcare, and KAGE Medical, a new start-up
venture, to develop the instrument such that it can translate Penn's Explorer prototype design to a commercial product.
Specifically we will: 1) test and optimize performance of the 70 cm prototype Penn Explorer scanner and
devise procedures to scale its range of axial lengths from 70-cm to 2.1-meters, 2) transfer the design to KAGE
Medical to incorporate software design control, assembly and testing documentation, while also adding
features for the end-user and improving the design to the functional level and reliability required for a
commercial device, and 3) evaluate the system with a limited number of clinical pilot studies with a focus on
the benefits of a 70 cm AFOV system for near-term clinically relevant applications, including adult and pediatric
oncology imaging. There will be continuing cooperation with the team of clinical researchers at the University of
Pennsylvania to transfer knowledge gained during the first human studies to optimize the instrument design
and imaging performance as well as both patient and end-user experience in order to enhance its success as a
commercial product. The purpose of our proposed AIP is to provide the resources for a commercial vendor to
translate the design of our academic proto-type to a commercial product to offer other institutions the
opportunity to explore potential applications of a long AFOV PET scanner, while also allowing us to implement
this enhanced capability with Penn's Explorer, which will serve as the test-bed during the AIP project period.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10051411
- **Project number:** 5R01CA225874-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** JOEL S KARP
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $599,358
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-12-05 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10051411

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10051411, PennPET Explorer Scanner With Scalable Axial Length for Total Body PET Imaging (5R01CA225874-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10051411. Licensed CC0.

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