WE-C-217BCD-10: Development of High Performance PET for Animal Imaging and Therapy Applications

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Medical imaging
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Small animal Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is crucial for preclinical research.
• Improving imaging performance, particularly spatial resolution and depth-of-interaction (DOI) measurement, remains a key challenge.
• Novel detector technologies are needed to overcome current limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a prototype small animal PET system incorporating novel technologies.
• To enable 3D gamma-interaction position measurement for enhanced imaging performance.
• To specifically improve depth-of-interaction (DOI) capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized detectors with 8x8 arrays of LYSO scintillators, featuring dual-ended readout for DOI measurement.
• Employed solid-state photomultiplier (SSPM) arrays and ASIC/FPGA electronics for precise timing and interaction data.
• Implemented a compact, portable gantry with two rotating detector panels and list-mode OSEM-based image reconstruction with resolution modeling.

Main Results:

• Achieved excellent energy (16%), timing (2.6 ns), and crystal (2.0 mm) resolutions.
• Demonstrated significantly improved spatial resolution (∼1.7 mm) across the field of view (FOV) with DOI, compared to non-DOI measurements (3.0-4.0 mm).
• PET imaging of an F-18 hot-rod phantom showed markedly better image quality when using DOI information.

Conclusions:

• The developed DOI-measurable PET system offers substantially improved image performance.
• This compact system represents a significant advancement for small animal PET imaging.
• The novel technologies employed enhance the utility of PET in preclinical research.