Development of novel PET detectors based on Geigermode Avalanche Photodiodes (G-APDs) for Molecular Imaging Applications

开发基于盖革模式雪崩光电二极管 (G-APD) 的新型 PET 探测器，用于分子成像应用

• 批准号: 101518311
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Bernd Pichler
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Abteilung für Präklinische Bildgebung und Radiopharmazie
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2008-12-31 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/101518311?language=en
• 关键词: Development; novel; PET; detectors; based

This grant focuses on the development of advanced detectors for positron emission tomographs (PET) based on novel semiconductor photodiodes and fast readout electronics. Conventional PET detectors are based on an array of scintillation crystals - which convert the gamma rays into weak light flashes - and highly sensitive, low noise and fast photomultiplier tubes (PMT), which detect the scintillation light. These photodetectors are bulky and relatively cost-intensive and are not suited for multimodality medical imaging devices such as PET/MRI. As alternative to PMTs serve currently avalanche photodiodes (APDs), which are semiconductor-based and very compact but provide about 10³ lower electronic gain and worse timing resolution than PMTs. This impacts the PET image quality and quantification accuracy. Recently, high energy physics research groups focussed on the development of so-called Geiger-mode APDs (G-APDs) which provide all the advantages of standard APDs but have a gain comparable to that of PMTs, resolve single photoelectrons, operate at much lower voltage and have an exceptional timing resolution. Also, the future costs for these GAPDs detectors should be much lower than for APDs or PMTs because of the standard CMOS production technology. The work suggested in this proposal focus on the investigation of G-APDs for their suitability to be used in high resolution PET applications. We will develop a novel detector which works in high magnetic fields for combined PET/MRI and provides depth of interaction information for best achievable spatial resolution. Furthermore, fast readout electronics, specifically for G-APDs, will be developed.

该基金的重点是开发基于新型半导体光电二极管和快速读出电子器件的正电子发射断层扫描（PET）先进探测器。传统的PET探测器基于闪烁晶体阵列-将伽马射线转换为微弱的闪光-以及高灵敏度，低噪声和快速光电倍增管（PMT），用于检测闪烁光。这些光电探测器体积庞大且成本相对密集，并且不适用于多模态医学成像设备，例如PET/MRI。作为PMT的替代品，目前使用雪崩光电二极管（APD），其基于晶闸管并且非常紧凑，但提供比PMT低约10³的电子增益和较差的时序分辨率。这会影响PET图像质量和量化精度。最近，高能物理研究小组专注于所谓的盖革模式APD（G-APD）的开发，其提供标准APD的所有优点，但具有与PMT相当的增益，分辨单个光电子，在低得多的电压下操作，并且具有优异的定时分辨率。此外，由于采用标准CMOS生产技术，这些GAPD探测器的未来成本应远低于APD或PMT。本提案中建议的工作重点是调查G-APD是否适合用于高分辨率PET应用。我们将开发一种新的探测器，它可以在高磁场中工作，用于PET/MRI组合，并提供相互作用的深度信息，以获得最佳的空间分辨率。此外，还将开发专门用于G-APD的快速读出电子设备。