Method and Apparatus for Providing Depth-of-Interaction Detection Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

• US 20090008562A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Grazioso, Ronald, Aykac, Mehmet
• Granted Patent: US 7,737,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/363.40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1644 using an array of optically separate scintillation elements permitting direct location of scintillations G01T1/1645 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2002 Optical details, e.g. reflecting or diffusing layers

Abstract

A detector is provided for nuclear medicine imaging. Scintillator pixels form an axial array and a transaxial array. A first photosensor is positioned along the axial array; and a second photosensor is positioned along the transaxial array, wherein the first photosensor and the second photosensor provide dual event localization for nuclear medicine imaging.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of scintillator pixels forming an axial array and a transaxial array alternately arranged;

a first photosensor positioned along the axial array; and

a second photosensor positioned along the transaxial array,

wherein the first photosensor and the second photosensor provide dual event localization for nuclear medicine imaging.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axial array and the transaxial array are on adjacent sides.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first set of photosensors including the first photosensor is positioned along the axial array, and a second set of photosensors including the second photosensor is positioned along the transaxial array.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator pixels form a block having two or more sides, the first photosensor is on one of the sides, and the second photosensor is on another one of the sides.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a third photosensor positioned on a third one of the sides of the block.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of reflective partitions interspersed among the scintillator pixels.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of the reflective partitions has a length different from another one of the reflective partitions.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrays are linear.

9. A system comprising:

a detector configured to receive a depth-of-interaction (DOI) information stemming from radiation emitted from a radiation source, the detector including,

a plurality of scintillator pixels forming a block of alternating arrays arranged axially and transaxially,

a first set of photosensors coupled to one side of the block in an axial direction,

a second set of photosensors coupled to another side of the block in a transaxial direction; and

an image processor configured to generate a three dimensional image from the DOI information.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the one side and the other side are adjacent sides.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the detector further includes a third set of photosensors positioned on a third one of the sides of the block.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein the block includes a plurality of reflective partitions interspersed among the scintillator pixels.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein one of the reflective partitions has a length different from another one of the reflective partitions.

14. A system according to claim 9, wherein the arrays are linear.

15. A method comprising:

acquiring localization data from a detector that includes,

a plurality of scintillator pixels forming an axial array and a transaxial array alternately arranged;

a first photosensor positioned along the axial array; and

a second photosensor positioned along the transaxial array,

wherein the first photosensor and the second photosensor provide the localization data; and

converting the localization data into an image.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the axial array and the transaxial array are on adjacent sides.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the detector further includes a plurality of reflective partitions interspersed among the scintillator pixels.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the arrays are linear.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein the acquiring step includes reading out an event from the axial array, and reading out the event from the transaxial array.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein the image is 3 dimensional (3-D).