Performance Evaluation of SmartBrain: A Wearable PET System for Human Brain Imaging.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Neuroscience
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Conventional brain Positron Emission Tomography (PET) requires stationary subjects, limiting naturalistic brain research.
• Cerebral metabolic activity imaging is crucial for understanding brain function and neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of SmartBrain, a novel wearable brain PET system for real-time imaging.
• To assess the suitability of SmartBrain for clinical brain research and diagnosis of neurological disorders.

Main Methods:

• SmartBrain utilizes 192 detectors with lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate crystal arrays and silicon photomultiplier arrays.
• Physical performance was evaluated using the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU 2-2018 standard.
• Imaging studies included 18F-FDG phantoms and dynamic rat imaging, alongside a healthy volunteer scan.

Main Results:

• Achieved spatial resolution of 2.29 mm, sensitivity of 720.2 cps/MBq, and time-of-flight resolution of 234 ps.
• Demonstrated clear visualization of brain structures in phantoms and resolved rods as small as 1.7 mm.
• Image quality metrics met NEMA standards, with contrast recovery coefficients up to 89.4% and background variability of 11.3%.

Conclusions:

• SmartBrain is a suitable wearable PET platform for clinical brain research, capable of visualizing brain structures.
• Its mobile and wearable nature provides unique opportunities for naturalistic brain imaging.
• Potential for future clinical applications in diagnosing and managing neurological disorders.