Optically coupled readout front-end for imaging system

• US 8,868,154 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Levin, Craig S., Olcott, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Unsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISHER, MICHAEL NAPOLEON
• Application Number:
  US12/246,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,206 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/411, 600/476, 378/64, 250/363.03, 250/363.04
• US Class Current: 600/411
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/481 MR combined with positron emission tomography [PET] or single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]

Abstract

A front end for an imaging system. The front end comprises at least one magnetically-insensitive high-energy photon detector and an interface for converting an output of the at least one high-energy photon detector to an optical signal and transmitting the optical signal. A receiver is optically coupled to the interface to receive the optical signal and convert the optical signal into a voltage signal.

Claims

1. A front end for an imaging system comprising:

a magnetically-insensitive high energy photon detector configured to receive emitted photons and produce an output; and

an interface coupled to said high energy photon detector configured to convert an output of said high energy photon detector to an optical signal and transmit said optical signal;

wherein said interface comprises;

an amplifier coupled to said high energy photon detector and configured to convert the output of the high energy photon detector to a voltage;

a driver coupled to said amplifier and configured to receive the voltage and drive a laser diode.

2. The front end of claim 1, wherein said driver comprises a laser driver;

and

wherein said interface further comprises a laser diode coupled to said laser driver.

3. The front end of claim 1, wherein said amplifier comprises a charge sensitive preamplifier.

4. A front end for an imaging system comprising:

a magnetically-insensitive high energy photon detector configured to receive emitted photons and produce an output; and

an interface coupled to said high energy photon detector configured to convert an output of said high energy photon detector to an optical signal and transmit said optical signal;

further comprising;

a receiver configured to receive the transmitted optical signal and to convert the optical signal into a voltage signal; and

an optical coupler, said optical coupler being coupled to said interface and to said receiver for coupling the transmitted optical signal to the receiver;

wherein said optical coupler comprises optical fiber; and

wherein said interface comprises a laser diode coupled to said optical fiber for transmitting the optical signal.

5. A front end module for an imaging system, comprising:

at least one magnetically-insensitive high-energy photon detector located in a high magnetic field environment;

an interface configured to convert an output of said at least one high-energy photon detector to an optical signal and to transmit the optical signal, the interface being located in the high magnetic field environment; and

a receiver optically coupled to said interface configured to receive the optical signal and to convert the optical signal into a voltage signal, the receiver being located outside of the high magnetic field environment.

6. The front end module of claim 5, wherein the high magnetic field environment comprises an MRI system, and wherein said receiver is disposed outside of the MRI system.

7. The front end module of claim 5, wherein said at least one high energy photon detector comprises:

at least one scintillation crystal configured to receive emitted photons and produce a signal; and

at least one photodiode configured to receive the produced signal and produce the output.

8. The front end module of claim 5, wherein said interface is magnetically insensitive.

9. The front end module of claim 5, further comprising:

an optical coupler configured to optically couple said interface and said receiver.

10. The front end module of claim 9, wherein said optical coupler comprises at least one optical fiber.

11. A PET system comprising:

the front end module of claim 5; and

electronics configured to convert the voltage from said receiver and generate an image from the voltage.

12. An imaging system comprising:

the PET system of claim 11; and

an MRI system.

13. A front end module for an imaging system, comprising:

at least one magnetically-insensitive high-energy photon detector located in a high magnetic field environment;

an interface configured to convert an output of said at least one high-energy photon detector to an optical signal and to transmit the optical signal, the interface being located in the high magnetic field environment; and

a receiver optically coupled to said interface configured to receive the optical signal and to convert the optical signal into a voltage signal, the receiver being located outside of the high magnetic field environment;

wherein said interface comprises an amplifier and a laser diode.

14. A front end module for an imaging system, comprising:

at least one magnetically-insensitive high-energy photon detector located in a high magnetic field environment;

an interface configured to convert an output of said at least one high-energy photon detector to an optical signal and to transmit the optical signal, the interface being located in the high magnetic field environment; and

a receiver optically coupled to said interface configured to receive the optical signal and to convert the optical signal into a voltage signal, the receiver being located outside of the high magnetic field environment;

wherein said interface comprises;

a charge sensitive preamplifier configured to convert the output of said at least one high-energy photon detector to a voltage;

a laser driver configured to convert the voltage to a current; and

a laser diode configured to receive the current and generate the optical signal.