Characterization of a multi-pinhole molecular breast tomosynthesis scanner.

In recent years, breast imaging using radiolabelled molecules has attracted significant interest. Our group has proposed a multi-pinhole molecular breast tomosynthesis (MP-MBT) scanner to obtain 3D functional molecular breast images at high resolutions. After conducting extensive optimisation studies using simulations, we here present a first prototype of MP-MBT and evaluate its performance using physical phantoms.

Novel light-guide-PMT geometries to reduce dead edges of a scintillation camera.

Anger cameras based on monolithic NaI scintillators read out by an array of PMTs are predominant in planar gamma imaging and SPECT. However, position estimation of gamma interactions is usually severely degraded near the edges of the scintillator which can be extremely undesirable for applications like breast imaging. Here we propose a relatively cost-effective solution based on the use of scintillators with absorptive edges with an unconventional light-guide-PMT layout employing a maximum likelihood positioning algorithm.

U-SPECT-BioFluo: an integrated radionuclide, bioluminescence, and fluorescence imaging platform.

Background: In vivo bioluminescence, fluorescence, and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging provide complementary information about biological processes. However, to date these signatures are evaluated separately on individual preclinical systems. In this paper, we introduce a fully integrated bioluminescence-fluorescence-SPECT platform.

VECTor: a preclinical imaging system for simultaneous submillimeter SPECT and PET.

Unlabelled: Today, PET and SPECT tracers cannot be imaged simultaneously at high resolutions but require 2 separate imaging systems. This paper introduces a Versatile Emission Computed Tomography system (VECTor) for radionuclides that enables simultaneous submillimeter imaging of single-photon and positron-emitting radiolabeled molecules.

Methods: γ-photons produced both by electron-positron annihilation and by single-photon emitters are projected onto the same detectors by means of a novel cylindric high-energy collimator containing 162 narrow pinholes that are grouped in clusters.

Experimental comparison of high-density scintillators for EMCCD-based gamma ray imaging.

Detection of x-rays and gamma rays with high spatial resolution can be achieved with scintillators that are optically coupled to electron-multiplying charge-coupled devices (EMCCDs). These can be operated at typical frame rates of 50 Hz with low noise. In such a set-up, scintillation light within each frame is integrated after which the frame is analyzed for the presence of scintillation events.

A micro-machined retro-reflector for improving light yield in ultra-high-resolution gamma cameras.

High-resolution imaging of x-ray and gamma-ray distributions can be achieved with cameras that use charge coupled devices (CCDs) for detecting scintillation light flashes. The energy and interaction position of individual gamma photons can be determined by rapid processing of CCD images of individual flashes. Here we investigate the improvement of such a gamma camera when a micro-machined retro-reflector is used to increase the light output of a continuous scintillation crystal.