A Novel Detector for Combined Optical and PET Imaging

描述(由申请人提供)： 这一提议的目的是探索开发一种能够以高灵敏度和高空间分辨率探测可见光波长的光学光子以及高能光子的探测器，例如正电子湮没过程中发射的光子。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，该系统将能够在正电子发射断层扫描(PET)或光学信号存在的情况下对体内的小动物模型进行非侵入性和重复成像。我们将这种新设备称为光学PET(OPET)。我们的兴趣是最终将这项技术用作一种工具，通过在细胞和小动物水平上连接光学成像，到微型PET，并在临床上应用到人类PET，从而实现转化性研究。虽然我们为这一翻译研究应用开发了这项技术，但我们预计将有大量其他应用从该设备的光子计数操作和高灵敏度中显现出来。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，这种新的设备将使用相同的物理探测器，并将完全消除PET和光学图像之间的软件图像配准的需要。具体地说，在这项计划中，我们计划研究不同的位置敏感和多通道成像光电探测器，从使用不同光电阴极材料的多通道光电倍增管到基于硅胶的雪崩光电二极管(雪崩光电二极管)探测器。我们还将研究优化和最大化从闪烁事件和光学信号中收集光光子的方法。最后，我们将建立一个基于少量探测器的原型系统，并将获得初步的光学/PET研究。开发的成像系统将是一种专门为小动物成像的新工具，对这两种信号都将具有高灵敏度和空间分辨率。我们希望它具有相当于最先进的光学成像系统的光学信号灵敏度，具有最先进的商业系统的PET绝对系统灵敏度(约为2%)，以及约2 mm的空间分辨率。此外，这种成像系统将降低成本，因为它的视场是为小动物成像应用而定制的。

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.