Low cost and high performance time-of-flight PET detectors

项目总结/摘要 存在实质上提高正电子发射断层扫描（PET）的灵敏度的主要推动力， 包括增加的晶体体积和具有快速定时能力的检测器的系统，以更好地利用511 利用飞行时间PET（TOF-PET）的keV光子定位。对于这些努力， 在TOF-PET探测器技术中， 以降低的成本提高光子探测效率。为了解决这个问题，我们建议利用新型读出电子器件 优化硅的单光子响应形状和单光子时间分辨率（SPTR） 光电倍增管（SiPM），以准确估计511 keV光子与混合 锗酸铋（BGO）的切伦科夫/发光（MCL）产率。SPTR对CTR的影响不大 用于快速和明亮的蒸发器，如硅酸镥蒸发器（LSO/LYSO）。然而，一个温和的 Cherenkov产率与弱发光响应混合产生了更独特的场景，其中SPTR和 单光子响应形状在可实现CTR中起主要作用。使用我们的电子读数，<285 ps 对于适用于临床PET探测器的长而窄的BGO晶体元件，可以实现FWHM CTR。这是 与最先进的（SoA）商用PET探测器实现的CTR相当。新型信号复用 我们建议开发的策略将使我们能够在大面积探测器中保持SoA CTR性能 与传统TOF-PET探测器设计相比，BGO是一个 非常经济的探测器材料，成本比标准LSO/LYSO低4-5倍 用于所有现代TOF-PET系统的蒸发器。我们将开发TOF-PET探测器模块， 前端信号处理和数字读出电子设备。该技术将为“即插即用”做好准备 集成到降低成本的临床TOF-PET系统和旨在探索超灵敏PET的系统中 以降低的成本增加检测体积的系统。所提出的PET探测器技术可以具有 对定量PET成像有重大影响。图像信噪比由巨大的 可以采用来自高灵敏度PET系统的计数的增加来显著减少示踪剂剂量， 缩短扫描时间/增加患者吞吐量，或更好地可视化和量化 存在显著的背景，这是可以使PET更实用和更低成本的重要特征。 成本，以及帮助扩大其在病人管理中的作用。

Project Summary/Abstract There is a major push to substantially improve the sensitivity of positron emission tomography (PET) with systems comprising increased crystal volume and detectors with fast timing capabilities to better exploit 511 keV photon localization with time-of-flight PET (TOF-PET). For these efforts, there is a vital need for advances in TOF-PET detector technologies that provide excellent coincidence time resolution (CTR) and 511 keV photon detection efficiency at reduced cost. To address this, we propose to leverage novel readout electronics that optimize the single photon response shape and single photon time resolution (SPTR) of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) to accurately estimate 511 keV photon time of interaction with the mixed Cherenkov/luminescence (MCL) yield from bismuth germinate (BGO). SPTR does not strongly influence CTR for fast and bright scintillators, such as lutetium orthosilicate scintillators (LSO/LYSO). However, a moderate Cherenkov yield mixed with a weak luminescence response creates a more unique scenario where SPTR and single photon response shape play a major role in achievable CTR. With our electronic readout, <285 ps FWHM CTR is achievable for long and narrow BGO crystal elements suitable for clinical PET detectors. This is equivalent to CTR achieved by state-of-the-art (SoA) commercial PET detectors. The novel signal multiplexing strategies we propose to develop will allow us to maintain SoA CTR performance in large area detector modules at the same or reduced channel density than conventional TOF-PET detector designs. BGO is an extremely economical detector material, with a cost that is 4-to-5 fold lower than the standard LSO/LYSO scintillators used in all modern TOF-PET systems. We will develop TOF-PET detector modules with associated front-end signal processing and digital readout electronics. The technology will be ready for “plug-and-play” integration into reduced cost clinical TOF-PET systems and those that aim to explore ultra-sensitive PET systems with increased detection volume at reduced cost. The proposed PET detector technologies can have a significant impact on quantitative PET imaging. The image signal-to-noise-ratio enabled by the enormous boost in counts from high sensitivity PET systems can be employed to substantially reduce tracer dose and shorten scan time/increase patient throughput, or to better visualize and quantify smaller lesions/features in the presence of significant background, which are important features that can make PET more practical and lower cost, as well as help to expand its roles in patient management.