A Scalable, Monolithic, DOI, TOF, MR compatible, PET Detector

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案的重点是设计和开发具有相互作用深度(DOI)定位能力的可扩展PET探测器。基本模块设计将适用于高分辨率、小动物PET成像和临床、飞行时间(TOF)、全身PET成像。PET探测器将与MR扫描仪中的操作兼容。该设计将利用由硅光电倍增管(SiPM)器件的二维阵列读出的低成本、厚的单片晶体闪烁体。我们设计的一个新特点是传感器将只放置在闪烁探测器的入射面上。初步结果表明，与传统的将传感器放置在晶体远表面相比，入射面传感器(SEP)设计提高了固有的X、Y空间分辨率和有效的DOI定位精度。设计的一个关键方面是读出电子设备与检测系统的集成。为了支持TOF PET，将开发一种特殊的混合专用集成电路(ASIC)，并使用可放置在探测器入射表面的定制前置放大器瓷砖，将信号放大的第一级尽可能保持在SiPM设备附近。此外，将选择所有电子设备，以便探测器可以在支持PET/MRI的磁场环境中操作。将开发一种可在人体全身、人脑和临床前PET成像系统之间进行缩放的“通用”探测器模块。此外，将在这项提案中建立和评估一个小动物PET系统的原型。原型系统将为设计理念提供充分的原则性证明。这在评估拥有DOI信息的好处时将特别有价值。此外，还将建立一组全身探测器模块，并在龙门模拟器中对其TOF、符合时间特性和潜在的图像分辨率优势进行评估，这些优势将通过拥有TOF和DOI定位信息来提供。这项联合研究计划将在核和临床前仪器领域做出长期而丰硕贡献的华盛顿大学PET物理组和飞利浦核医学业务部门与非常活跃的PET成像研究计划结合在一起，并展示了在飞行时间技术和重建方面的领先地位。与公共健康相关：根据美国癌症协会的数据，在美国，每两个男性中就有一个会在一生中患上癌症，每三个女性中就有一个会患上癌症。在罹患癌症的人中，约有一半会死于这种疾病。因此，这项工作的目标是开发新的成像技术，以帮助抗击癌症。为此，我们正在开发的探测器技术将推动全身PET/CT成像和小动物临床前PET成像系统的最先进水平。它将提供计时性能，以支持人体全身成像协议的飞行时间成像。该探测器还将与MR兼容，以支持小动物和人类的PET/MR联合成像。最后，探测器将提供交互深度(DOI)信息。DOI信息将支持PET/MR成像，并为小型动物成像系统提供固有空间分辨率和检测效率的更好组合。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal focuses on the design and development of a scalable PET detector with depth-of-interaction (DOI) positioning capability. The basic module design will be suitable for high resolution, small animal PET imaging and clinical, time-of-flight (TOF), whole body PET imaging. The PET detector will be compatible with operation in a MR scanner. The design will utilize a low cost, thick, monolithic crystal scintillator readout by a two-dimensional array of silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) devices. A novel feature of our design is that the sensors will only be placed on the entrance surface of the scintillation detector. Preliminary results indicate that both the intrinsic X, Y spatial resolution and the effective DOI positioning accuracy are improved using the sensor on entrance plane (SEP) design versus traditional placement of the sensors on the far surface of the crystal. A key aspect of the design is the integration of the readout electronics with the detection system. To support TOF PET, a special hybrid application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) will be developed and the fist level of signal amplification will be kept as close as possible to the SiPM device using a custom pre-amplifier tile that can be placed on the entrance surface of the detector. Further, all electronics will be selected so that the detector can operate in a magnetic field environment to support PET/MRI. A 'universal' detector module that can be scaled between human whole-body, human brain, and preclinical PET imaging systems will be developed. Further, a prototype small animal PET system will be built and evaluated within this proposal. The prototype system will provide full proof of principle of the design concept. This will be especially valuable in assessing the benefits of having DOI information. In addition a set of whole- body detector modules will be built and evaluated in a gantry simulator for both their TOF, coincidence timing characteristics and potential image resolution benefits that will be provided by having both TOF and DOI positioning information. This joint research proposal brings together the University of Washington PET physics group with a long and fertile contribution to the field of nuclear and pre-clinical instrumentation and Philips, Nuclear Medicine Business Unit, with a very active research program in PET imaging and demonstrated leadership in Time-of- Flight technology and reconstruction. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: According to the American Cancer Society one out of every two males and one out of every three females in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetime. Of individuals developing cancer about one half will die from the disease. Therefore the goal of this work is to develop new imaging technology that will aid in the battle against cancer. To do this, the detector technology that we are developing will advance the state of the art for both whole body PET/CT imaging and small animal, preclinical PET imaging systems. It will provide timing performance to support time-of-flight imaging for human, whole-body imaging protocols. The detector will also be MR compatible to support combined PET/MR imaging for both small animals and for humans. Finally, the detector will provide depth of interaction (DOI) information. DOI information will support both PET/MR imaging and provide a better combination of intrinsic spatial resolution and detection efficiency for small animal imaging systems.