Radionuclides: Radiation Detection and Quantification

描述(申请人提供)：研究用于核医学和分子成像的新型成像系统仍然是该项目的长期目标。在过去的几年里，研究的重点是康普顿散射相机及其为单光子成像提供比传统吸收准直显着改进的潜力。到目前为止的结果表明，康普顿相机将在240keV的能量下或在康普顿探头布置下运行时提供卓越的性能。然而，仍然需要工作来制造具有大约1keV半高宽的能量分辨率的散射探测器的大阵列。在本项目期间，调查将略微改变方向，重点开发甚高分辨率(VHP)PET概念，这是康普顿相机调查的结果，并在上次更新中报告。最近，使用这项技术展示了0.8 mm半高宽空间分辨率，这项研究的目的是评估一种实用设备相对于目前的小动物PET技术的性能，并开发必要的技术，使小动物分子成像的分辨率仅受正电子范围的限制，效率接近10%。调查的主要具体目标是：1.评估VHR PET概念优于更传统设计的PET仪器的潜力。这将通过使用基于Cramer-Rao界限的统计性能评估方法来实现。2.搭建PET试验台，用于测试VHR PET新技术。3.进一步开发高分辨率固态探测器和读出技术，以确定这一概念的可行性。将与密歇根大学、俄亥俄州立大学、欧洲核子研究中心(日内瓦)、巴伦西亚大学(西班牙)和卢布尔雅那大学(斯洛文尼亚)合作开展工作。这项研究的结果不仅将是VHR PET概念的令人信服的演示，还将为VHR PET和康普顿相机的发展提供必要的技术。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The investigation of novel imaging systems for nuclear medicine and molecular imaging continues to be the long-term objective of this project. For the previous several years investigations have focused on Compton scatter cameras and their potential for providing significant improvements over conventional absorbing collimation for single photon imaging. Results so far indicate that Compton cameras will provide superior performance at energies >240keV or when operated in a Compton probe arrangement. Nevertheless, work is still required to create large arrays of scattering detectors having energy resolution approximately 1keV FWHM. In the this project period, investigations will change directions slightly and focus on developing the very high resolution (VHP) PET concept, which was conceived as result of the Compton camera investigations and reported in the last renewal. Recently, 0.8mm FWHM spatial resolution has been demonstrated using this technique and the goal of this investigation is to evaluate performance of a practical device relative to present small animal PET technologies and to develop technologies necessary to allow molecular imaging of small animals with resolution limited only by the positron range at efficiencies approaching 10%. The major Specific Aims of the investigation are: 1. Evaluate the potential for the VHR PET concept to outperform PET instruments of more conventional design. This will be accomplished by using statistical performance evaluation methods based on the Cramer-Rao bound. 2. Construct a PET test bench upon which the new VHR PET technologies will be tested. 3. Further develop the high-resolution solid-state detector and readout technologies necessary to establish feasibility of the concept. Work will be done in a collaboration that includes the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, CERN (Geneva), the University of Valencia (Spain), and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). Results of this investigation will not only be a compelling demonstration of the VHR PET concept but will also provide technologies necessary to advance both VHR PET and Compton cameras.