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

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案侧重于设计和开发具有交互深度（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。该设计将利用低成本，厚，单片晶体闪烁体读出的硅光电倍增管（SiPM）设备的二维阵列。我们的设计的一个新颖的特点是，传感器将只放置在闪烁探测器的入口表面。初步结果表明，无论是固有的X，Y空间分辨率和有效的DOI定位精度提高使用入射平面（SEP）设计上的传感器与传统的放置在晶体的远表面上的传感器。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口表面上的定制前置放大器瓦片，使第一级信号放大尽可能接近SiPM设备。此外，将选择所有电子设备，以便探测器可以在磁场环境中操作，以支持PET/MRI。将开发一种可以在人体全身、人脑和临床前PET成像系统之间缩放的“通用”探测器模块。此外，将在本提案中构建和评估原型小动物PET系统。原型系统将提供设计概念的原理的充分证明。这在评估拥有DOI信息的好处时特别有价值。此外，还将构建一组全身探测器模块，并在机架模拟器中评估其TOF、重合时序特性和通过具有TOF和DOI定位信息提供的潜在图像分辨率优势。这项联合研究计划将华盛顿大学PET物理组与Philips核医学业务部门结合在一起，前者在核和临床前仪器领域做出了长期而丰富的贡献，后者在PET成像领域开展了非常活跃的研究计划，并在飞行时间技术和重建方面发挥了领导作用。公共卫生相关性：根据美国癌症协会的数据，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，这将有助于对抗癌症。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成像系统的发展。它将提供定时性能，以支持人体全身成像协议的飞行时间成像。探测器也将与MR兼容，以支持小动物和人类的PET/MR组合成像。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，并为小动物成像系统提供内在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.