A Novel Detector for Combined Optical and PET Imaging

描述（由申请人提供）： 本提案的目的是探索开发一种探测器，该探测器能够以高灵敏度和高空间分辨率探测可见光波长的光子以及高能光子，例如在正电子湮灭期间发射的光子。我们还建议使用这种新的探测器来构建一个原型成像系统，该系统将能够在体内对小动物模型进行非侵入性和重复成像，以确定是否存在正电子发射断层扫描（PET）或光学信号。我们将这种新设备称为光学PET（OPET）。我们的兴趣是最终使用这项技术作为一种工具，通过将细胞和小动物水平的光学成像与microPET以及临床中的人类PET应用相结合，实现转化研究。虽然我们开发这种技术用于这种转化研究应用，但我们预计许多其他应用将从该设备的光子计数操作性质和高灵敏度中体现出来。我们之前已经开发了第二代高分辨率microPET扫描仪，我们计划使用类似的探测器配置来检测光学和PET信号。因此，这种新型设备将使用相同的物理探测器，并将完全消除对PET和光学图像之间的软件图像配准的需要。具体来说，在这项建议中，我们计划调查不同的位置敏感和多通道成像光电探测器，从多通道光电倍增管与不同的光电阴极材料，硅雪崩光电二极管（APD）探测器。我们还将研究优化和最大限度地收集闪烁事件以及光信号的光子的方法。最后，我们将建立一个基于少量探测器的原型系统，我们将获得初步的光学/PET研究。开发的成像系统将是一种专门用于成像小动物的新工具，对两种信号都具有高灵敏度和空间分辨率。我们期望它具有与现有技术的光学成像系统相当的光学信号灵敏度、现有技术的商业系统的PET绝对系统灵敏度（大约2%）以及大约2 mm的空间分辨率。此外，由于其视场定制为小动物成像的应用，该成像系统将具有降低的成本。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this proposal is to explore the development of a detector capable of detecting with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution optical photons in the visible wavelength as well as high energy photons, such as those emitted during positron annihilation. We further propose to use this new detector to construct a prototype imaging system that will be capable to non-invasively and repeatedly image small animal models in-vivo for the presence of either Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or optical signals. We will call this new device optical PET (OPET). Our interest is in ultimately using this technology as a tool that will enable translational research by bridging optical imaging at the cellular and small animal level, to microPET and on to human PET applications in the clinic. While we develop this technology for this translational research application, we expect that a multitude of other applications will manifest themselves from the photon counting nature of operation and high sensitivity of this device. We have previously developed the second generation of the high-resolution microPET scanners, and we plan to use a similar detector configuration for the detection of both optical and PET signals. This novel device therefore will use the same physical detector, and will completely eliminate the need for software image registration between PET and optical images. Specifically in this proposal, we plan to investigate different position sensitive and multi-channel imaging photodetectors, ranging from multi-channel photomultiplier tubes with different photocathode materials, to silicone based Avalanche Photo Diode (APD) detectors. We will also study methods of optimizing and maximizing the collection of light photons from scintillation events as well as optical signals. Finally we will build a prototype system based on a small number of detectors, and we will acquire the initial optical/PET studies. The developed imaging system will be a new tool dedicated to imaging small animals and will have high sensitivity and spatial resolution for both signals. We expect it to have optical signal sensitivity equivalent to state of the art optical imaging systems, PET absolute system sensitivity of state of the art commercial systems (on the order of 2%), and spatial resolution on the order of 2 mm. Furthermore, this imaging system will be of reduced cost, due to its field of view customized to the application of small animal imaging.