[A simulation method for studying scintillation camera collimators]

This paper presents a computer simulation of photon interaction with collimator septa, which allows the point spread function of scintillation camera collimators to be calculated. The method simulates photon attenuation along their propagation direction in a determinist way. Using this simulation, the spatial resolution, geometric efficiency and penetration index of collimators may be easily assessed. Results obtained with this method are presented and compared with those obtained from standard formulae. We show the usefulness of the simulation which precisely accounts for effects of septum penetration. Measurements performed on two collimators with 131I and 99Tcm point sources provide results consistent with those obtained from the simulation method. In conclusion we show that this method is an accurate tool to assist conception of collimators for nuclear medicine.