Performance evaluation of a multiplexing circuit combined with ASIC readout for cost-effective brain PET imaging

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Nuclear Medicine
• Detector Physics

Background:

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) systems face challenges in acquiring high-resolution images efficiently.
• Reducing detector channels is key to lowering costs and improving data collection in PET scanners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel signal multiplexing technique for PET detectors.
• To assess the impact of channel reduction on time, energy, and positioning performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a semi-monolithic detector design combining pixelated and monolithic elements.
• Implemented signal multiplexing by summing signals along rows and columns.
• Compared performance using TOFPET2 ASIC against standard readout.

Main Results:

• Energy resolution was 16.9 ± 1.3%, and coincidence time resolution was 405 ± 29 ps.
• Positioning accuracy was 1.9 ± 0.4 mm (monolithic) and 3.0 ± 0.7 mm (depth-of-interaction).
• Time resolution slightly worsened by ~15%, but energy and positioning remained unaffected by summation.

Conclusions:

• Signal multiplexing effectively reduces channels in PET detectors without compromising critical performance metrics.
• This approach offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for developing ultra-high-performance PET scanners.
• The findings support the viability of this technique for advanced brain imaging applications.