Position sensitive sparse sensor arrays and their application to low cost, high performance PET detectors

 描述(由申请人提供)：在神经成像研究中，迫切需要一种实用的、高分辨率的、定量的功能成像工具，以改进诊断和治疗。为此，我们建议研究和开发新的方法来支持用于PET纯大脑成像系统的高性能、低成本探测器设计的开发。随着NIH通过推进创新神经技术(BEAR)进行脑研究，我们相信在不久的将来，人脑成像将成为PET仪器最大的增长领域。能够扩大这项技术的关键是使其成本更低、更易于使用，以便当地诊所能够负担得起购买和运营这些系统的费用。我们引入了位置敏感稀疏传感器(PS3)阵列的概念，以实现低成本、高性能 性能设计。我们的PS3阵列将使用硅光电倍增管(SiPM)器件和定制设计的光导制造。SiPM是盖革模式雪崩光电二极管(GM-APD)器件，具有非常吸引人的PET探测器的性能特性。它们具有与光电倍增管(PMT)相似的信号增益和与PMT相同或更好的定时特性。此外，它们非常紧凑，可以在磁场环境中工作。然而，成本仍然是一个缺点。使用我们的PS3概念，我们寻求将用于PET检测器设计的SiPM的成本降低75%以上，同时仍为神经PET成像应用提供优异的性能。为了进一步实现低成本设计，我们的光导将使用地下激光雕刻来引导光线，以增强解码性能。最后，我们将使用双面(DS)读出和我们的PS3阵列实现交互深度定位功能。该项目由两个具体目标组成。我们将首先通过仿真研究不同DS-PS3检测器配置的性能特征。我们将调查使用Lyso和BGO闪烁体材料的设计。接下来，我们将开发并充分描述探测器模块的原型。这项工作的最终结果将是开发和表征一种新的低成本PET探测器设计，该探测器将为人脑成像提供卓越的成像性能。这项工作的长期目标是开发一种低成本、高性能、具有优化的图像重建和数据处理算法的纯脑部正电子发射断层扫描(PET)系统。该系统将设计用于办公室使用和/或作为药物开发或临床试验测试的分组网络。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A pressing need in neuro-imaging research towards improved diagnosis and therapies is a practical, high- resolution, quantitative functional imaging tool. To this end we propose to investigate and develop novel methods to support development of high performance, low cost detector designs for PET brain only imaging systems. With the NIH's Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative, we believe that human brain imaging will be the largest growth area for PET instrumentation in the near future. The key to enabling the expansion of this technology is to make it lower cost and easy to use such that local clinics can afford to purchase and operate these systems. We introduce the concept of position sensitive sparse sensor (PS3) arrays to facilitate low cost, high performance designs. Our PS3 arrays will be made using silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) devices and custom designed light guides. SiPMs are Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (GM-APD) devices that have very attractive performance characteristics for PET detectors. They have signal gain similar to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and timing characteristics equivalent to or better than PMTs. In addition, they are very compact and can operate in magnetic field environments. However, cost is still a drawback. Using our PS3 concept, we seek to reduce the cost of SiPMs for PET detector designs by greater than 75% while still providing excellent performance for neuroPET imaging applications. To further enable a low cost design, our light guides will use subsurface laser engraving to direct light for enhanced decoding performance. Finally we will enable depth of interaction positioning capability using dual sided (DS) readout and our PS3 arrays. This project consists of two specific aims. We will first investigate via simulation the performance characteristics of different DS-PS3 detector configurations. We will investigate designs using both LYSO and BGO scintillator material. Next, we will develop and fully characterize prototype detector modules. The net result of this work will be the development and characterization of a new low cost PET detector design that will provide outstanding imaging performance for human brain imaging. The long term goal of this work is to develop a low-cost, high performance, brain only positron emission tomography (PET) system with optimized image reconstruction and data processing algorithms. The system will be designed for in office use and/or as a grouped network for drug development or clinical trials testing.