Validation of the design of a high-sensitivity and high-resolution PET system for a preclinical PET/EPR hybrid scanner.

We report the development of a high-sensitivity and high-resolution PET subsystem for a next-generation preclinical PET/EPR hybrid scanner for investigating and improving hypoxia imaging with PET. The PET subsystem consists of 14 detector modules (DM) installed within a cylindrical supporting frame whose outer and inner diameters are 115mm and 60mm, respectively. Each DM contains eight detector units (DU) in a row and each DU is made of a 12×12 array of 1×1×10mm LYSO crystals (with a 1.

DOI- and TOF-capable PET array detector using double-ended light readout and stripline-based row and column electronic readout.

We investigate a highly multiplexing readout for depth-of-interaction (DOI) and time-of-flight PET detector consisting of an N×N crystals whose light outputs at the front and back ends are detected by using silicon photomultipliers (SiPM). The front N×N SiPM array is read by using a stripline (SL) configured to support discrimination of the row position of the signal-producing crystal. The back N×N SiPM array is similarly read by an SL for column discrimination.

A Preclinical Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Electron-Paramagnetic-Resonance-Imaging (EPRI) Hybrid System: PET Detector Module.

We report the design and experimental validation of a compact positron emission tomography (PET) detector module (DM) intended for building a preclinical PET and electron-paramagnetic-resonance-imaging hybrid system that supports sub-millimeter image resolution and high-sensitivity, whole-body animal imaging. The DM is eight detector units (DU) in a row. Each DU contains 12×12 lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystals having a 1.

Scatter correction for cone-beam CT via scatter kernel superposition-inspired convolutional neural network.

X-ray scatter leads to signal bias and degrades the image quality in Computed Tomography imaging. Conventional real-time scatter estimation and correction methods include the scatter kernel superposition (SKS) methods, which approximate x-ray scatter field as a convolution of the scatter sources and scatter propagation kernels to reflect the spatial spreading of scatter x-ray photons. SKS methods are fast to implement but generally suffer from low accuracy due to the difficulties in determining the scatter kernels.

Multiplexing Readout for Time-of-Flight (TOF) PET Detectors Using Striplines.

A recent trend in PET instrumentation is the use of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for high-resolution and time-of-flight (TOF) detection. Due to its small size, a PET system can use a large number of SiPMs and hence effective and scalable multiplexing readout methods become important. Unfortunately, multiplexing readout generally degrades the fast timing properties necessary for TOF, especially at high channel reduction.

Evaluation of image quality with four positron emitters and three preclinical PET/CT systems.

Background: We investigated the image quality of C, Ga, F and Zr, which have different positron fractions, physical half-lifes and positron ranges. Three small animal positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) systems were used in the evaluation, including the Siemens Inveon, RAYCAN X5 and Molecubes β-cube. The evaluation was performed on a single scanner level using the national electrical manufacturers association (NEMA) image quality phantom and analysis protocol.

Modularized compact positron emission tomography detector for rapid system development.

We report the development of a modularized compact positron emission tomography (PET) detector that outputs serial streams of digital samples of PET event pulses via an Ethernet interface using the UDP/IP protocol to enable rapid configuration of a PET system by connecting multiple such detectors via a network switch to a computer. Presently, the detector is [Formula: see text] in extent (excluding I/O connectors) and contains an [Formula: see text] array of [Formula: see text] one-to-one coupled lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate/silicon photomultiplier pixels. It employs cross-wire and stripline readouts to merge the outputs of the 216 detector pixels to 24 channels.