FPGA Electronics for OPET: A Dual-Modality Optical and Positron Emission Tomograph

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Molecular Imaging
• Preclinical Research

Background:

• Developing advanced imaging systems is crucial for understanding biological processes.
• Small animal imaging requires high resolution and sensitivity for accurate data acquisition.
• Combining multiple imaging modalities offers complementary information for comprehensive analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a prototype dual-modality optical and Positron Emission Tomography (OPET) small animal imaging tomograph.
• To enable simultaneous or sequential acquisition of PET and optical imaging data.
• To provide a versatile tool for preclinical research and molecular imaging applications.

Main Methods:

• A single ring of six detector modules, each with an 8x8 array of BGO scintillators coupled to photomultiplier tubes.
• Custom multiplex readout scheme with analog filtering for gamma-ray (PET) or single photon events (SPEs).
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP) unit with 100 MHz ADCs and FPGAs for event processing and coincidence detection.

Main Results:

• The OPET system demonstrated capability in both PET and optical imaging modes.
• Initial phantom studies showed successful imaging of 18FDG distribution and optical patterns.
• The DSP unit effectively determined event timing, energy, position, and processed coincidences.

Conclusions:

• The prototype OPET system successfully integrates PET and optical imaging for small animal studies.
• This dual-modality approach offers enhanced capabilities for molecular and preclinical research.
• Further development and validation are expected to advance small animal imaging techniques.