Real-time motion correction method for a portable, high-resolution TOF pet scanner for imaging the brain, head, and neck - head and neck cancer (HNC), including cancers of the oral cavity and…

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research awarded Petcoil, Inc. $409,779 on July 1, 2026, under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121) to develop a real-time motion correction method for a portable, high-resolution time-of-flight PET scanner designed for imaging the brain, head, and neck in head and neck cancer patients. The award addresses a clinical gap in detecting cervical lymph node metastases, where conventional whole-body PET scanners generate high false-negative rates for small lesions despite their role in cancer staging and treatment planning.

Petcoil, a for-profit medical imaging technology company based in Sunnyvale, California, will perform the work through June 30, 2027. The company specializes in advanced PET system development, particularly for neurological and craniofacial imaging applications. This is a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) project grant, which supports early-stage technical feasibility and commercial potential assessment in small business research.

Real-time motion correction method for a portable, high-resolution TOF pet scanner for imaging the brain, head, and neck - head and neck cancer (HNC), including cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx, is the sixth most common cancer and the ninth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite advances in pet imaging, a critical tool in staging and treatment planning, the detection of cervical lymph node metastases remains challenging due to the limited resolution of conventional whole-body pet scanners. This limitation results in high false-negative rates, particularly for small (