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交互深度（DOI）定位能力的可扩展PET检测器。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检测器将与MR扫描仪的操作兼容。该设计将利用硅光电倍增管（SiPM）器件的二维阵列，实现低成本、厚的单片晶体闪烁读出。我们设计的一个新颖之处在于传感器将只放置在闪烁探测器的入口表面。初步结果表明，与传统的传感器放置在晶体远表面相比，传感器放置在入口平面（SEP）设计提高了传感器的固有X、Y空间分辨率和有效DOI定位精度。该设计的一个关键方面是读出电子器件与检测系统的集成。为了支持TOF PET，将开发一种特殊的混合应用专用集成电路（ASIC），并使用可放置在探测器入口表面的定制前置放大器瓦，将第一级信号放大保持尽可能接近SiPM设备。此外，所有电子设备都将被选择，以便探测器可以在磁场环境中工作，以支持PET/MRI。将开发一种“通用”探测器模块，可以在人体全身、人脑和临床前PET成像系统之间进行缩放。此外，将在本提案中建立并评估一个小型动物PET系统的原型。该原型系统将为设计概念的原理提供充分的证明。这在评估拥有DOI信息的好处时尤其有价值。此外，将构建一套全身探测器模块，并在龙门模拟器中评估其TOF、重合时序特性和潜在的图像分辨率优势，这些优势将由TOF和DOI定位信息提供。这项联合研究计划将华盛顿大学PET物理小组和飞利浦核医学业务部门结合在一起，前者在核和临床前仪器领域有长期而丰富的贡献，后者在PET成像领域有非常活跃的研究项目，并在飞行时间技术和重建方面表现出领导地位。公共卫生相关性：根据美国癌症协会的数据，在美国，每两个男性中就有一个，每三个女性中就有一个会在一生中患上癌症。在患癌症的人中，大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，以帮助对抗癌症。为了做到这一点，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成像系统的发展。它将提供时序性能，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，检测器将提供交互深度（DOI）信息。DOI信息将同时支持PET/MR成像，并为小动物成像系统提供更好的内在空间分辨率和检测效率的结合。

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.