Tapered Scintillator Crystal Geometry for Enhanced Depth of Interaction and Time-of-Flight Performance in Single-Ended Readout PET Modules

Background

High-resolution Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a critical research tool, utilizing advanced components like dense scintillator crystals and cost-effective silicon photomultipliers. To improve spatial resolution and reduce costs, many systems employ n-to-1 crystal-to-pixel coupling, where multiple scintillators share fewer readout pixels. Furthermore, Depth of Interaction (DOI) readout is essential for mitigating parallax error and enhancing resolution, traditionally implemented through expensive dual-ended readout schemes or single-ended designs that induce depth-dependent intercrystal light sharing via light guides. A significant hurdle for commercializing high-performance PET systems has been their high cost, exemplified by the lack of commercial adoption for dual-ended readout modules. While signal multiplexing has been successfully applied to 1-to-1 coupled detector modules, it becomes challenging for systems that rely on intercrystal light sharing for accurate event localization and DOI.

Technology

Researchers at Stony Brook University have developed a multiplexing scheme that enables up to 16-to-1 crystal-to-channel coupling in deterministic light sharing PET modules, such as Prism-PET. The novel technology leverages the prismatoid light guide in these modules, which deterministically confines intercrystal light sharing to the four nearest neighboring readout pixels for each crystal. This ensures that every pixel participating in a crystal's light sharing is read out by a distinct channel. Furthermore, the scheme supports depth of interaction (DOI) readout, as accurate localization and crystal identification require only the four highest readout signals per event, without compromising energy resolution due to the confined light sharing.

Advantages

• Enhanced Cost-Effectiveness
• Improved Spatial Resolution
• Superior Depth of Interaction (DOI) Resolution
• Reduced System Complexity
• Enhanced Energy Resolution
• Increased Sensitivity
• Compact Detector Design

Application

• Advanced PET System Manufacturing and Sales
• Technology Licensing