Design Optimisation of a Flat-Panel, Limited-Angle TOF-PET Scanner: A Simulation Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Nuclear Physics
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) systems benefit from improved coincidence time resolution (CTR).
• A CTR below 100 picoseconds (ps) relaxes geometric constraints, enabling novel scanner designs like flat-panel detectors.
• Flat-panel designs offer potential advantages in cost, compactness, and modularity compared to traditional ring scanners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and performance of flat-panel TOF-PET scanners.
• To compare flat-panel scanner designs with a reference clinical scanner using established metrics.
• To investigate the impact of crystal readout strategies on image quality and performance.

Main Methods:

• Simulations of four-panel flat-panel PET scanners with varying design parameters.
• Comparison against a Siemens Biograph Vision scanner using NEMA NU 2-2018 standards.
• Evaluation of spatial resolution using a novel method suitable for flat-panel geometry.
• Assessment of single-crystal versus module crystal readout strategies.

Main Results:

• Flat-panel scanners with CTR below 100 ps can achieve image quality comparable to a reference clinical scanner.
• Significant savings in scintillator material are achievable with flat-panel designs.
• The study presents a suitable method for evaluating spatial resolution in flat-panel geometries.

Conclusions:

• Optimized TOF-PET detectors and electronics are paving the way for achieving system-level CTRs around 75 ps.
• Flat-panel TOF-PET scanners represent a viable and potentially more economical alternative to conventional ring scanners.
• Further development in detector and readout strategies can enhance the performance and cost-effectiveness of future PET systems.