Position Sensitive Photomultiplier Research Articles

High spatial resolution PET detectors based on 10 mm × 10 mm linearly-graded SiPMs and 0.5 mm pitch LYSO arrays.

Position-sensitive silicon photomultipliers (PS-SiPMs) are promising photodetectors for ultra-high spatial resolution small-animal positron emission tomography (PET) scanners. This paper evaluated the performance of the latest generation of linearly-graded SiPMs (LG-SiPMs), a type of PS-SiPM, for ultra-high spatial resolution PET applications using LYSO arrays from two vendors. 
Approach: Two dual-ended readout detectors were developed by coupling LG-SiPMs to both ends of the two LYSO arrays. Each LG-SiPM has an active area of 9.8 mm × 9.8 mm. Both LYSO arrays consist of 20 × 20 arrays of 0.44 mm × 0.44 mm × 20 mm polished LYSOs with a pitch of 0.5 mm. The performance of the two detectors was compared in terms of flood histogram, energy resolution, timing resolution, and depth-of-interaction (DOI) resolutions.
Main results: Flood histograms showed clear identification of all LYSO elements except for some edge crystals due to the larger size of the LYSO arrays compared to the active area of the LG-SiPMs and the misalignment between LG-SiPMs and LYSO arrays in the assembled detectors. At a bias voltage of 37.0 V, the detectors utilizing the Tianle LYSO array and EBO LYSO array provided energy resolutions of 17.5 ± 2.2 % and 18.6 ± 2.0 %, timing resolutions of 0.75 ± 0.03 ns and 0.78 ± 0.03 ns, and DOI resolutions of 2.16 ± 0.15 mm and 2.31 ± 0.12 mm, respectively. 
Significance: The results presented in this paper demonstrate that the new generation LG-SiPMs are promising photodetectors for ultra-high spatial resolution small-animal PET scanner applications.

Development of an X-ray imaging camera for targeted radionuclide therapy with astatine-211

The alpha-particle targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) has been actively investigated for cancer treatment, and astatine-211 (211At) is one of the promising alpha-particle emitters. To evaluate the efficacy of radioactive pharmaceuticals, it is necessary to understand the 211At distribution in a body to accurately assess radiation dose in the targeted cells. In this study, an X-ray imaging camera was developed to investigate an in vivo211At imaging technique for the alpha-particle TRT, especially to apply for small animal investigations. The design of the X-ray imaging camera was optimized to measure Po K X-rays (77–92 keV) emitted during 211At decay. It comprised a monolithic NaI(Tl) scintillator, a position-sensitive photomultiplier, and a tungsten pinhole collimator. The intrinsic performance evaluation of the position-sensitive X-ray detector exhibited good energy resolution, spatial resolution, and response uniformity. Using point-like 211At sources, the 211At distribution was successfully obtained by the X-ray camera with a useful field-of-view of 20.4 × 20.4 mm2, a system spatial resolution of 1.6 mm, and a sensitivity of 2.4 × 10−4, equivalent to 101 cps/MBq, on the collimator axis at a 12.5 mm distance. This study demonstrated the imaging capability of 211At with high sensitivity and spatial resolution by the X-ray imaging camera with a pinhole collimator.

Development of an ultrahigh resolution 1 mm Si-PM array based GGAG alpha particle imaging detector with gamma or X-ray separation capability

For precise distribution measurements of alpha particles, as required in alpha radionuclide therapy research, a high-resolution alpha particle imaging detector is desirable. While combining a thin scintillator with a photodetector array, such as a position-sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT), is a potential method to develop an event-by-event-based alpha particle imaging detector, the spatial resolution is currently limited to around 0.8 mm FWHM. To overcome this limitation, we utilized a small-sized Si-PM array combined with a thin GGAG plate to create an alpha particle imaging detector and evaluated its performance. In the developed alpha particle imaging detector, a Si-PM array with a channel size of 1 mm × 1 mm arranged in an 8 × 8 configuration was optically coupled to a 1 mm thick GGAG plate, with a 1-mm-thick light guide between them. Since the decay times of GGAG differ between alpha particles and gamma photons or X-rays, we were able to separately measure the distributions of alpha particles and gamma photons using pulse shape discrimination. The spatial resolution of the developed alpha particle imaging detector was 0.19 mm FWHM, and the energy resolution was 11% FWHM for 5.5 MeV alpha particles. Additionally, we were able to separately measure the distributions of alpha particles and gamma photons for simultaneously irradiated phantoms using pulse shape discrimination. The developed imaging detector shows promise for distribution measurements of alpha particles, as well as gamma photons or X-rays, where high spatial resolution and separation of gamma photons or X-rays are required.

Technological Advances in SPECT and SPECT/CT Imaging.

Single photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) is a mature imaging technology with a dynamic role in the diagnosis and monitoring of a wide array of diseases. This paper reviews the technological advances, clinical impact, and future directions of SPECT and SPECT/CT imaging. The focus of this review is on signal amplifier devices, detector materials, camera head and collimator designs, image reconstruction techniques, and quantitative methods. Bulky photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are being replaced by position-sensitive PMTs (PSPMTs), avalanche photodiodes (APDs), and silicon PMs to achieve higher detection efficiency and improved energy resolution and spatial resolution. Most recently, new SPECT cameras have been designed for cardiac imaging. The new design involves using specialised collimators in conjunction with conventional sodium iodide detectors (NaI(Tl)) or an L-shaped camera head, which utilises semiconductor detector materials such as CdZnTe (CZT: cadmium-zinc-telluride). The clinical benefits of the new design include shorter scanning times, improved image quality, enhanced patient comfort, reduced claustrophobic effects, and decreased overall size, particularly in specialised clinical centres. These noticeable improvements are also attributed to the implementation of resolution-recovery iterative reconstructions. Immense efforts have been made to establish SPECT and SPECT/CT imaging as quantitative tools by incorporating camera-specific modelling. Moreover, this review includes clinical examples in oncology, neurology, cardiology, musculoskeletal, and infection, demonstrating the impact of these advancements on clinical practice in radiology and molecular imaging departments.

Development of a phoswich imaging detector to simultaneously acquire neutron and gamma photon images

A neutron detector requires selectively detecting neutrons not detecting gamma photons. However, since gamma photons are commonly emitted from a neutron source, the separation of neutrons and gamma photons is sometimes difficult. To solve this problem, we developed a phoswich imaging detector that can simultaneously but independently acquire images of neutrons and gamma photons. The developed neutron imaging system consists of a lithium-containing silver doped zinc sulfide (Li–ZnS(Ag)) plate stacked on a cerium doped yttrium aluminum perovskite (YAP(Ce)) plate to form a phoswich detector, which is optically coupled to a position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT). Neutrons are detected by the Li–ZnS(Ag) plate while gamma photons are detected by the YAP(Ce) plate. The scintillation light from the Li–ZnS(Ag) and YAP(Ce) plates is detected by the PSPMT, and the position of interaction is calculated. Pulse shape discrimination is used to separate the images of neutrons and gamma photons. The spatial resolution of the imaging detector for neutrons is ∼2.6 mm FWHM, and the sensitivity for 252Cf neutrons at 2 cm from the source enclosed in 2-cm-thick polystyrene plates is 5.2 cps/MBq. The spatial resolution of the imaging detector for gamma photons is also ∼2.6 mm FWHM, and the sensitivity for 60Co gamma photons at 2 cm from the source within 2-cm-thick polystyrene plates is 375 cps/MBq. The contamination by gamma photons in the neutron window was negligible. The developed phoswich imaging detector can simultaneously and independently acquire the images of neutrons and gamma photons, and thus it will impact the relevant research and applications of neutron detectors and imaging.

Design of a novel gamma camera with large field of view for 16N diagnosis in the primary loop of nuclear reactor.

The assessment of the concentration and distribution of l6N, derived from 16O in the cooling water exposed to neutron irradiation, is essential for ensuring radiation safety during nuclear reactor operation. The imaging method allows for the visualization of the intensity distribution of these l6N by capturing gamma-rays emitted during their decay process. However, the existing gamma camera is exclusively compatible with gamma-rays below 2MeV. In this paper, a novel gamma camera featuring a thick double-conical penumbra aperture, a pixelated Lu1.8Y0.2SiO5:Ce scintillator array, and a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube is proposed to address this limitation. This innovative design offers a large field of view (FOV) and is suitable for high energy extended gamma source imaging. The optimization of key parameters of the camera was conducted, and a FOV of 60° and an angular resolution of up to 4.57° were achieved. Imaging simulations, including a simplified model of the primary loop of the pressurized-water reactor by GEANT4 code and image reconstruction using the expectation maximum algorithm, demonstrated that the proposed gamma camera could obtain a satisfactory spatial resolution for diagnosing the distribution of 16N in the primary loop of a nuclear reactor.

Front-End Circuit for Photomultiplier Tube Signal Readout Based on Recognition of Traffic Signal Images

Photoelectric sensing technology plays a crucial role in vehicular equipment, which is equipped with various photoelectric devices to perceive the surrounding environment and avoid traffic lights and vehicles. This research selects the Hamamatsu H9500, a 256-channel, position-sensitive photomultiplier tube, as the test unit. It aims to simplify signal readout while improving the spatial resolution of the photodetector. This research focuses on designing a charge distribution circuit named Discretized Positioning Circuit (DPC) for the photomultiplier tube, with an additional charge-sensitive front-end amplification and shaping circuit. This circuit can convert the weak current signals from the H9500 into voltage signals. The shaping part of the circuit employs an active CR-RC circuit with weak signal amplification capabilities. This circuit is deployed within the photomultiplier tube, strategically positioned on vehicles to recognize various traffic sign images. The front-end shaping circuit is tested in the experiments, which converts square wave voltage into pulse current using a capacitor. It is observed that the current signal has a certain width and the voltage waveform of the CR differential circuit can be obtained by increasing the input impedance to 1 MΩ. During input voltage amplitude testing, the corrected output signal voltage shows a good linear relationship with the input square wave voltage. This designed front-end shaping circuit is used for signal readout in photomultiplier tubes and deployed in vehicular equipment to collect image information of traffic signs. After image processing, satisfactory recognition results are achieved.

Development of a real-time gamma camera for high radiation fields

In high radiation fields, gamma cameras suffer from pulse pile-up, resulting in poor energy resolution, count losses, and image distortion. To overcome this problem, various methods have been introduced to reduce the size of the aperture or pixel, reject the pile-up events, and correct the pile-up events, but these technologies have limitations in terms of mechanical design and real-time processing. The purpose of this study is to develop a real-time gamma camera to evaluate the radioactive contamination in high radiation fields. The gamma camera is composed of a pinhole collimator, NaI(Tl) scintillator, position sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT), signal processing board, and data acquisition (DAQ). The pulse pile-up is corrected in real-time with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) using the start time correction (STC) method. The STC method corrects the amplitude of the pile-up event by correcting the time at the start point of the pile-up event. The performance of the gamma camera was evaluated using a high dose rate 137Cs source. For pulse pile-up ratios (PPRs) of 0.45 and 0.30, the energy resolution improved by 61.5 and 20.3%, respectively. In addition, the image artifacts in the 137Cs radioisotope image due to pile-up were reduced.

Detection performance of pixelated lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) scintillators for high-resolution photon-counting CT imaging.

High-resolution photon-counting detector (PCD) computed tomography (CT) imaging is increasingly used for several applications. Recent technological advances in CT instrumentation have introduced various types of radiation detectors. Therefore, this work aims at evaluating the lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) scintillator for use in PCD CT from a detector point of view. To do so, a mini-CT prototype was designed and constructed based on the pixelated LYSO blocks. The detector comprises four 10 × 10 linearly arranged LYSO blocks coupled with four position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes. The prototype utilizes a point gamma-ray source along with a cone-beam collimator. An in-home MATLAB-based data processing software package was also developed for storing the list-mode data, event positioning, and energy windowing. A set of experiments were conducted to assess the performance of the constructed energy-resolved LYSO:Ce detector for mini-CT imaging. The results show good crystal identification for all blocks with a maximum peak-to-valley ratio of 3.48. In addition, the findings confirm that the developed detector is position-sensitive. The 20% energy window provides an optimal performance by simultaneously providing good crystal identification and a scatter removal factor of 0.71. A 96% uniformity was also observed when the detector was irradiated with a uniform flood. The spatial resolution of the mini-CT prototype in the x- and y-directions was calculated to be 0.9 and 0.93mm, respectively, corrected for a magnification factor of 2.5. It is concluded that the pixelated LYSO crystal is a promising alternative to the current detectors and would be the scintillator of choice for high-resolution PCD CT imaging tasks.

Development of a GAGG(Ce)-based compact 3D scanning setup for assessment of active volume in [formula omitted]-ray detectors

A Ce-doped GAGG (Gadolinium Aluminum Gallium Garnet: Gd3Al2Ga3O12) scintillator crystal has been coupled with a multianode position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT). The system is made compact by employing an external resistive network that reduces the 64 readouts of the PSPMT to only four signals. The resulting GAGG(Ce)-PSPMT setup has been put to use for quick scanning of γ-ray detectors by reconstructing the image of the latter with coincident photons between the pair of detectors. In the present work, such scans are demonstrated for an old single-crystal coaxial reverse-electrode HPGe detector as well as an old clover HPGe detector. For the single-crystal HPGe, the growth of the effective depleted region under increasing reverse-bias voltages has been visualized from the image reconstruction. The active volume is seen to grow from the surface towards the axial cavity. For the clover HPGe detector, dysfunctional portions in the crystals could be identified. The experimental results are found to agree well with simulation carried out using the GEANT4 toolkit. Scanning a detector using this method is faster compared to the scanning process by a point source.

Measured and GATE predicted PET-image-based activity range verification for carbon therapy: a phantom study

In-beam PET is one of the imaging-based methods for monitoring carbon therapy by reconstruction of positron-emitters produced by incident particles. The accurate Monte Carlo simulation is necessary for range verification and therapeutic dose monitoring by means of the in-beam PET. GATE is capable of performing in-beam PET imaging but very few studies assess the accuracy of activity range measured from PET imaging with GATE simulated results. In this work, we present both experimental and GATE simulation studies of in-beam PET imaging of a phantom, which is irradiated by carbon ion beam, for range verification. The experiment data is acquired at Wuwei Heavy Ion Cancer Treatment Center in Gansu, China, with a dual-head plate PET prototype. The PET prototype consists of 2 panels, each arranged in 2 × 2 matrix. Each detector block is composed of 20 × 20 LYSO crystal array coupled with the position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (HAMAMATSU H8500). A homogeneous plastic phantom is irradiated with monoenergetic 131.05 MeV and 190.19 MeV 12C ion pencil beams. The irradiation and full response of PET prototype are simulated with GATE macros. A novel mathematical model is established, which is capable of calculating and revealing the variation of the positron activity. Our focus is on the reconstructed activity ranges obtained by the experimental measurement and GATE MC prediction combined with the positron activity distribution calculation mathematical model. Results show that the reconstructed activity distribution of experimental data and GATE MC prediction are in good agreement. The measured and simulated 1D activity peak and falling edge positions are within 1.0 mm in all cases. The 20%, 50% and 80% PET peak positions predicted by GATE are close to measurements. These results indicated that it is feasible to assess the accuracy of activity range measured from the dual-head plate PET system with the modeled GATE hadron-PET simulation.

The coordinate sensitive detector with high space and time resolution based on the MA-20 multianode PMT

The work is dedicated to the discussion of the possibility of creating a position-sensitive detector with high coordinate reconstruction. The paper presents the simulation results and the experimentally obtained data for a prototype detector based on the MA-20 multianode PMT [1] and a linear stack of scintillating crystal or plastic strips. The multianode position-sensitive PMT MA-20 has a semitransparent bi-alkaline photocathode with the size of the sensitive area of 10 × 200 mm2, 10 evaporated type bi-alkaline type dynodes of the same length, and 20 separated anodes. This PM is the invention of the authors. The maximum gain of the dynode system is 106. The stack of scintillating strips made of GSO (gadolinium orthosilicate) crystals with an element size of 3 × 10 × 50 mm3, of BGO (bismuth germanate) crystals with an element size of 5 × 15 × 40 mm3, and finally stack of strips made of a plastic scintillator with an element size of 5 × 10 × 200 mm3 were used for experimental measurement of a spatial resolution of the detector prototype. Space resolution was determined by the position of the center of gravity of charges of neighboring anodes [2]. As a source of radiation, the collimated 137Cs (γ 0.662 MeV) and 90Sr (β− 2.283 MeV) were used, the measured number of photoelectrons is 10–20 of one element of the stack, depending on the scintillating strip type. The use of a multi-anode photomultiplier in combination with the stack of crystal or plastic scintillators allows one to get a simple linear detector with high performance in spatial resolution and also with a low level of intrinsic noise in comparison, for example, with silicon PMT. A resolution simulation was performed for a system consisting of a one-dimensional stack of scintillation strips placed on the photocathode of a multi-anode PMT for different values of the strips width and the number of photoelectrons of one strip. The experimental dependences of the signal value versus position of optical fiber with a diameter of 1 mm on the photocathode of the 20 anodes PMT were also measured that allowed to specify the coordinate resolution for the described detector. As a result of processing the collected data, spatial resolution was obtained at the level of 1 mm. The obtained results are in good agreement with the simulation results.

Cerium Bromide Single-Crystal X-Ray Detection and Spectral Compatibility Assessment with Various Optical Sensors

Scintillators with high light yield (LY) values are of interest for medical imaging applications, in harsh environments, nondestructive testing (NDT), etc. CeBr3 has a LY of 60000 photons per MeV, a value much higher than other efficient materials, such as Lu3Al5O12:Ce (25000 photons/MeV); thus, its X-ray detection properties would be of interest to be examined for medical imaging applications. The X-ray detection and absorption properties of a single crystal CeBr3 sample along with the compatibility of its produced light with various optoelectronic sensors were examined. In this study, the quantum detection (QDE) and the energy absorption efficiency (EAE) of CeBr3 were calculated. The findings were compared with data for 10 × 10 × 10 m m 3 Lu3Al5O12:Ce and CaF2:Eu single crystals. The measured optical spectrum produced by CeBr3 was well correlated with the spectral response of commercial optical sensors, yielding spectral matching higher than 93% for various photocathodes, e.g., GaAs (94%), E-S20 (95%), and bialkali and multialkali (95-97%), as well as with flat panel position-sensitive photomultipliers (95-99%). The energy absorption properties of CeBr3 were found higher than those of Lu3Al5O12:Ce and CaF2:Eu for X-ray tube voltages greater than 100 kVp. The quantum detection efficiency was 100% across the examined energy range. Even though CeBr3 is hygroscopic and has a mediocre 5.1 g/cm3 density, the QDE, EAE, and spectral correlation results are promising for medical imaging applications.

Development of a phoswich detector composed of ZnS(Ag) and YAP(Ce) for astatine-211 imaging

For the research on alpha emitters used for targeted alpha particle therapy such as astatine-211 (211At), alpha particle as well as X-ray imaging are required for autoradiography and phantom imaging or in vivo imaging of small animals. Consequently, two imaging detectors for different types of radiations are required in such research. However, preparing two types of imaging detectors needs cost and space. If a single imaging detector could image alpha particles as well as X-rays for 211At, it would be an advance in the imaging research for targeted alpha particle therapy. Consequently, we developed a detector that can be used for both alpha particle and X-ray imaging. The developed imaging detector is a phoswich type made of a ZnS(Ag) sheet and a cerium doped YAlO3 (YAP(Ce)) plate optically coupled to each other with a 1-mm-thick light guide between scintillators. These scintillators were optically coupled to a 1-inch-square position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT) to form an imaging detector. The ZnS(Ag) sheet detects alpha particles while the YAP(Ce) plate detects X-rays from 211At. Due to the pulse height difference between alpha particles and X-rays, a different high voltage was supplied to the PSPMT for alpha particle and low-energy X-ray detection. Discrimination between alpha particles and X-rays were conducted by pulse height as well as pulse shapes of ZnS(Ag) and YAP(Ce). The intrinsic spatial resolution for 5.5-MeV alpha particles was better than 0.6 mm the full width at half maximum (FWHM), while that for 60-keV gamma photons was ∼1.2 mm FWHM. Energy resolution for 5.5-MeV alpha particles was 60% FWHM, while that for 60-keV gamma photons was 25% FWHM. With a 4-mm-thick, 0.6-mm-diameter parallel hole collimator mounted on the detector, the system spatial resolution for 60-keV gamma photons was ∼2 mm FWHM within 5 mm from the collimator surface, and its sensitivity was 0.5%. An image of the 211At alpha particle distribution of a sliced kidney as well as an X-ray image of a paper soaked with 211At solution could be obtained. We conclude that the developed detector is promising for single-detector imaging of alpha particles as well as X-rays from 211At.

Half-life measurement of the 199-keV isomeric state in Ga76

Background: Isomeric states in atomic nuclei are a sensitive probe of their underlying microscopic structure and can be used to study the evolution of shell structure far from stability. Recent studies have identified and provided detailed spectroscopy of isomers in neutron-rich nuclei with $Z=28\text{\ensuremath{-}}50$. Isomeric states in the odd-odd gallium isotopes have been reported for all gallium isotopes from $A=72$ to $A=80$ with the exception of $^{76}\mathrm{Ga}$.Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to observe short-lived isomeric states in the vicinity of $^{78}\mathrm{Ni}$.Methods: In-beam fragmentation of a $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}$ primary beam at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory produced radioactive ions which were delivered to and deposited in a $\mathrm{Ce}{\mathrm{Br}}_{3}$ scintillator coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube. Beta-delayed $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays were measured by ancillary HPGe clover and $\mathrm{La}{\mathrm{Br}}_{3}$ detectors which surrounded the implantation detector.Results: The previously observed ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={1}^{+}$, 199-keV level in $^{76}\mathrm{Ga}$, populated following the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of $^{76}\mathrm{Zn}$, was identified as isomeric with a half-life of $34{(1)}_{\text{stat.}}{(8)}_{\text{sys.}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ns}$. Shell-model calculations suggest this state is formed by the coupling of protons in negative-parity configurations to $1/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ neutron configurations. Transition strengths assuming a ground-state spin of $J=2$ and $J=3$ were determined from the experimental data.

Development of a high-resolution SSR-SPECT system for preclinical imaging and neuroimaging

Techniques like single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) show high potential in small animals in vivo imaging framework. In this context, the spatial resolution represents an important parameter influencing scanner design, given the small size of the anatomical structures to be investigated. The purpose of the present work was to assess the performance of a scintigraphic system with an improved spatial resolution by applying the previously described Super Spatial Resolution (SSR) method. Our dual-head SPECT system is composed of gamma cameras based on the Hamamatsu H13700 position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT). In each detector head, the PSPMT is coupled to a 28 × 28 array of CRY018 scintillation crystals. The pure Tungsten parallel square hole collimator ensures the position sensitivity, and a dedicated resistive chain readout so as an ADC board have been proprietary designed.To finalize the mechanical development of the SSR-SPECT system several tests were carried out. Based on the results obtained in the test phase, a partial review of the mechanical design was performed. Then a dedicated mechanical motion software was developed, and in particular, a kinematic software debugging and testing was assessed. Several experiments were carried out by using Derenzo phantoms and capillaries filled with radioactive sources. Finally, the performance of our system was evaluated by performing small animal imaging studies.The SPECT spatial resolution was experimentally determined to be about 1.6 mm. We reach a resolution of 1.18 mm by applying the SSR based on two images.The results of this study demonstrated the good capability of the system as a suitable tool for preclinical imaging especially in fields like neuroscience for the study of small brain structures.

Development of a simultaneous imaging system to measure the optical and gamma ray images of Ir-192 source for high-dose-rate brachytherapy

In high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, verification of the Ir-192 source's position during treatment is needed because such a source is extremely radioactive. One of the methods used to measure the source position is based on imaging the gamma rays from the source, but the absolute position in a patient cannot be confirmed. To confirm the absolute position, it is necessary to acquire an optical image in addition to the gamma ray image at the same time as well as the same position. To simultaneously image the gamma ray and optical images, we developed an imaging system composed of a low-sensitivity, high-resolution gamma camera integrated with a CMOS camera. The gamma camera has a 1-mm-thick cerium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite (YAIO3: YAP(Ce)) scintillator plate optically coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT), and a 0.1-mm-diameter pinhole collimator was mounted in front of the camera to improve spatial resolution and reduce sensitivity. We employed the concept of a periscope by placing two mirrors tilted at 45 degrees facing each other in front of the gamma camera to image the same field of view (FOV) for the gamma camera and the CMOS camera. The spatial resolution of the imaging system without the mirrors at 100 mm from the Ir-192 source was 3.2 mm FWHM, and the sensitivity was 0.283 cps/MBq. There was almost no performance degradation observed when the mirrors were positioned in front of the gamma camera. The developed system could measure the Ir-192 source positions in optical and gamma ray images. We conclude that the developed imaging system has the potential to measure the absolute position of an Ir-192 source in real-time clinical measurements.

Neutron detection efficiency of the Neutron dEtector with Xn Tracking (NEXT)

An efficient neutron detection system with good energy resolution is required to correctly characterize decays of neutron-rich nuclei where β-delayed neutron emission is a dominant decay mode. The Neutron dEtector with Xn Tracking (NEXT) has been designed to measure β-delayed neutron emitters. By segmenting the detector along the neutron flight path, NEXT reduces the associated uncertainties in neutron time-of-flight measurements, improving energy resolution while maintaining detection efficiency. Detector prototypes are comprised of optically separated segments of a neutron-gamma discriminating plastic scintillator coupled to position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes. The first performance studies of this detector showed that high intrinsic neutron detection efficiency could be achieved while retaining good energy resolution. The results from the efficiency measurements using neutrons from direct reactions are presented.

Characterization and Pilot Human Trial of Dedicated Breast Ring Positron Emission Tomography (BRPET) System

We describe the design and performance of BRPET, a novel dedicated breast PET (dbPET) scanner designed to maximize visualization of posterior regions of the breast. BRPET uses prone imaging geometry and a 12-module detector ring built from pixelated LYSO crystals coupled to position sensitive photomultiplier tubes (PSPMTs). Optical coupling via slanted plastic fiber optic light guides permits partial insertion of the crystals into the exam table’s breast aperture. Image quality testing procedures were adapted from the NEMA NU4-2008 protocol. Two additional phantom tests quantified the posterior extent of the usable volume of view (VoV). BRPET axial, radial, and tangential FWHM spatial resolutions at the isocenter were 1.8, 1.7, and 1.9 mm, respectively. The peak absolute system sensitivity was 0.97% using an energy window of 460–562 keV. The peak noise equivalent counting rate was 5.33 kcps at 21.6 MBq. The scanner VoV extends to within ~6 mm of the plane defining the location of the chest wall. A pilot human study (n = 10) compared the diagnostic performance of FDG-BRPET to that of contrast enhanced MRI (CEMRI), with biopsy as ground truth. Averaged over three expert human observers, the sensitivity/specificity for BRPET was 0.93/1.0, compared to 1.0/0.25 for CEMRI.

Pulse-Height and 2-D Charge-Spread Single-Pixels Studies on a LuYAP:Ce Scintillation Array

The present work deals with a 10 × 10 array of (Lu0.7Y0.3)AP:Ce 2 × 2 × 10 mm3 pixels, manufactured by Crytur (Cz), that has been utilized in a previous paper. The crystal-array has been coupled to an 8 × 8 anodes H10966 model Hamamatsu (Jp) Position-Sensitive Photo Multiplier Tube (PSPMT) connected to electronics for single events scintillation read-out. The response of such a detector has been studied under Co-57, or Ba-133, or Cs-137 gamma-ray emissions, as well as with Lu-176 self-activity only. The present work is aimed at characterizing the individual crystal-pixels’ single-event responses in terms of pulse-height and of spreads of the 2-D charge-distributions. In particular, the charge-spread characterization pointed out several defects in the crystal-array assembly, not detected by usual pulse-height studies. The diagnostic method based on charge-spread analysis seems also well suited for scintillation array characterizations for gamma-ray detectors studies, as well as for quality controls of such pixelated devices during the lifetime of systems in the field of radionuclide medical imaging (SPECT and PET). The method is also appropriate for other applications where gamma-ray spectroscopy is required, like nuclear physics, astrophysics, astroparticle physics, homeland security, and non-proliferation.