Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2013, Physics

Computed Tomography (CT) is a very popular diagnostic imaging technique. Almost 85.3 million scans were done in 2011. A CT scan uses about 100-500 times more ionizing radiation than a single X-ray image. However, the lack of clear dose reference levels, and lack of professional or governmental organizations for collecting and reporting dose data have exacerbated high dose variability. Moreover, studies have shown correlation between CT scans and the chance of getting cancer. Plexar Imaging, a startup based in Cleveland, has found an innovative way to reduce the dose variability. Plexar's software can suggest the minimum dose required to produce an acceptable image. This paper discusses Plexar's technology, analyzes the CT scans market, draws out business strategies, and suggests a viable business model for Plexar Imaging.

Committee: EDWARD CANER (Committee Chair); TERRY BRUCE (Committee Member); IZEN STEVEN (Committee Member) Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Physics

Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2012, Physics

Radiation exposure in medical imaging has become a major concern all around the world. Specifically, CT scanners carry the highest risk of a high dose of radiation, delivering hundreds of times more radiation than that of a single X-ray image. Studies have shown a direct relation between CT scans, the chance of getting cancer, and mortality rates. The contradicting problem is that lowering the radiation dose causes inferior image quality, which may result in rescan or a misdiagnosis. Plexar Imaging, a startup situated in Cleveland, has found an innovative way to reduce unnecessary exposure to radiation in CT scans, by quantifying the lowest dose that will produce acceptable image quality, as determined by the radiologists in a hospital system. The product of a CT scan is a set of images. The requirement is that the radiologist can make the right diagnosis from those images. With a universal metric based on image quality and a method to calibrate any CT scanner to that metric, PI has developed a way to make sure the desired IQ will be achieved while using only the least amount of radiation that is necessary. The use of IQ as the measurement unit will help standardize the radiation dosage in CT scans, and will provide, for the first time, a common scale technologists and radiologist can use to communicate with each other.

Committee: Edward Caner MS (Committee Chair); Bruce Terry MBA (Committee Member); Robert Brown PhD (Committee Member); David Rohler PhD (Committee Member); Steven Izen PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Medical Imaging; Radiation