Development of Whole-Body TOF-DOI PET Detector Using Dual-Ended Readout Method.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Nuclear Medicine
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a highly sensitive in vivo molecular imaging technique.
• Image quality in PET is limited by factors such as timing and spatial resolution.
• Incorporating time-of-flight (TOF) and depth-of-interaction (DOI) information can significantly enhance PET image quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop whole-body TOF-DOI PET detectors using a dual-ended readout method.
• To simultaneously achieve good TOF and DOI information for improved PET imaging.
• To evaluate the performance of the developed detectors for constructing advanced PET scanners.

Main Methods:

• Developed PET detectors utilizing dual-ended readout of 8x8 lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystals (20 mm thickness).
• Coupled two 8x8 silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays to opposite ends of each LYSO array.
• Employed a 3.2 mm pitch for both LYSO and SiPM arrays, enabling dual-ended crystal readout.

Main Results:

• Achieved a coincidence timing resolution of 234 ± 7 ps.
• Obtained an energy resolution of 13.7 ± 2.0%.
• Demonstrated a depth-of-interaction (DOI) resolution of 2.6 ± 0.2 mm.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-ended readout TOF-DOI PET detectors provide excellent timing and DOI resolution.
• These detectors are suitable for building whole-body PET scanners with uniform spatial resolution.
• The findings support the advancement of PET instrumentation for enhanced molecular imaging applications.