Microfocus x-ray imaging of traceable pointlike (22)Na sources for quality control

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Nuclear Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) relies on accurate calibration sources.
• Sodium-22 (22Na) point sources are crucial for PET calibration.
• Assessing internal geometry and defects in these sources is vital for reliable calibration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a microfocus X-ray imaging technique for internal structure observation and quantitative geometrical error evaluation.
• To apply this technique for quality control of traceable pointlike (22)Na sources used in PET calibration.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a microfocus X-ray imaging system (0.001 mm focus size) for projection and CT imaging.
• Analyzed internal structure and evaluated geometrical errors quantitatively from X-ray images.
• Employed Monte Carlo simulations to assess the impact of geometrical errors on photon emission.

Main Results:

• Projection X-ray images provided precise evaluation of geometrical errors.
• CT images offered intuitive observation of internal structures.
• Four out of five (22)Na samples met quality standards; one sample exhibited defects.

Conclusions:

• The microfocus X-ray imaging technique is a promising method for evaluating the internal geometry of small radioactive sources.
• This quality control procedure is essential for ensuring the reliability of (22)Na sources as basic calibration tools for PET.