HIGH PRESSURE XENON 3D IMAGING DETECTOR

描述（由申请人提供）：所有临床核医学成像， PET和单光子都是专门用晶体探测器系统完成的。 这些探测器在成本和技术上都有许多限制 性能在140 keV成像中，NaJ/PMT相机，核成像的主力， 药物，是非常庞大的，昂贵的，并限制在这两个计数率和 空间分辨率在511 keV PET成像中，必须使用外来高Z晶体。 采用这种方法会导致非常高的成本和非常有限的立体角。根据HL 59805， PTI开发了一种实用的小型管状高压氙探测器， 可以在0.55 g/cm 3的密度下在密封模式下运行多年。该培养基 有可能产生比Nal高10倍的能量分辨率 和LSO以及与LSO相当的时间分辨率。我们建议，作为 PTI小型管状探测器，大型圆柱形脉冲电离探测器 （直径20-50 mm），配有分段阴极条结构和 紧密的发射端窗口。广泛的试点分析研究表明， 通过使用条形阴极电极信号分布， 可以实现能够140 keV和511 keV的目的检测器元件 成像并具有1 mm量级的出色3D空间分辨率。试点 实验研究表明，通过使用光信号， 主相互作用过程和电子附近的受激发射 收集点在阳极，能量分辨率接近放大器噪声 限制是可能的。因此，对于50 e- rms的放大器噪声，能量 140 keV的分辨率可以低于2%的FWHM， 511千电子伏。所采用的氙的密度比NaI小约6倍，但仍然 在适当薄的检测器中提供140 keV的有效检测。对于511 keV 探测，氙中出现的多个相互作用顶点是 在吸收阵列中的不同管之间充分展开， 闪烁光提供1 ns的符合时间分辨率。因此 所提出的以适当阵列配置的检测器元件可以提供很大的 在两个主要的核医学成像领域的性能提高。在 第一阶段，可行性和功能空间和能量分辨率限制将 通过原型的构建和测试来建立。第二阶段a 一个功能齐全的探测器元件将在小型 阵列，以评估实际的临床成像应用。 拟定商业应用： 本申请提出了一种新型高压氙辐射的开发， 探测器元件将提供空间和能量分辨率的实质性改进 能量包括140 keV和511 keV。 因此，这项技术可以提供高 高性能、耐用和相对低成本的辐射检测介质， 核成像技术，包括PET、准直单光子成像和康普顿 显像 因为这项技术可以在广泛的应用中取代基本的检测元件， 应用范围广，具有很大的潜在商业市场。

DESCRIPTION (Provided by Applicant): All clinical nuclear medicine imaging, both PET and single photon, is done exclusively with crystal detector systems. These detectors impose a host of limitations in both cost and technical performance. In 140 keV imaging, the NaJ/PMT camera, the workhorse of nuclear medicine, is extremely bulky, costly, and limited in both count rate and spatial resolution. In 511 keV PET imaging, exotic high Z crystals must be employed leading to very high cost and very limited solid angle. Under HL59805, PTI has developed a practical small tubular high pressure xenon detector which can operate in sealed mode for years at a density of 0.55 g/cm3. This medium has the potential to produce a 10-fold energy resolution improvement over Nal and LSO and a time resolution comparable to LSO. We propose, as an extension of the PTI small tubular detector, a larger cylindrical pulse ionization detector (20-50 mm in diameter) equipped with a segmented cathode strip structure and a tight transmitting end window. Extensive pilot analytical studies indicate that, through use of the strip cathode electrode signal distribution, a general purpose detector element can be achieved capable of both 140 keV and 511 keV imaging and having excellent 3-D spatial resolution on the order of 1 mm. Pilot experimental studies indicate that, through use of light signals produced by both the primary interaction process and stimulated emission near the electron collection point at the anode, energy resolution approaching amplifier noise limits is possible. Thus, for an amplifier noise of 50 e- rms, energy resolution at 140 keV can be under 2 percent FWHM and significantly better at 511 keV. The density of xenon employed is about 6-fold less than Nal but still affords efficient detection of 140 keV in a suitably thin detector. For 511 keV detection, the multiple interaction vertices which occur in xenon are adequately spread out among distinct tubes in an absorbing array and primary scintillation light provides coincidence time resolution of I ns. Thus, the proposed detector element configured in appropriate arrays can offer greatly improved performance in both of the major nuclear medicine imaging arenas. In Phase I, feasibility and functional spatial and energy resolution limits will be established through construction and testing of prototypes. In Phase II, a fully functional detector element will be developed and operated in small arrays to evaluate practical clinical imaging applications. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The current application proposes development of a novel high pressure xenon radiation detector element that will offer substantial improvements in spatial and energy resolutions for energies including 140 keV and 511 keV. Thus, this technology could provide a high performance, durable, and relatively low cost radiation detection medium for use in many nuclear imaging technologies, including PET, collimated single photon imaging, and Compton imaging. Because this technology could replace the basic detection element in a broad range of applications, it has a very large potential commercial market.