CMOS Active Pixel Sensors as energy-range detectors for proton Computed Tomography

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Imaging Technology
• Particle Detectors

Background:

• Proton CT (pCT) is crucial for accurate proton therapy planning by mapping tissue stopping power.
• Traditional energy-range detectors using scintillator calorimeters have limitations in read-out speed due to single-proton processing.
• Faster and more efficient pCT scanning requires novel detector technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the suitability of CMOS Active Pixel Sensors (APSs) as energy-range detectors for pCT.
• To evaluate the capability of CMOS APSs for tracking individual protons within a multi-layer detector system.
• To demonstrate a novel approach for faster and more efficient pCT data acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing CMOS Active Pixel Sensors (APSs) configured as a multi-layer energy-range telescope.
• Performing proton tracking measurements with CMOS APSs at iThemba Laboratories.
• Analyzing measurement data for proton tracking correlation to confirm detector capabilities.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the capability of CMOS APSs to track individual protons through multiple layers.
• Presented measurement data validating the proton tracking performance of the APS-based energy-range telescope.
• Confirmed the potential of CMOS APSs for simultaneous multi-proton energy measurement.

Conclusions:

• CMOS Active Pixel Sensors (APSs) are a promising technology for developing faster and more efficient proton CT systems.
• The proposed APS-based energy-range telescope facilitates simultaneous measurement of multiple protons, overcoming limitations of previous technologies.
• This advancement can significantly improve treatment planning and efficiency in proton therapy.