Projects / Programmes
Positron emission tomography with a novel photon detector
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.08 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
Medical physics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B140 |
Biomedical sciences |
Clinical physics, radiology, tomography, medical instrumentation |
medical imaging, positron emission tomography, photo-detectors, scintillators
Researchers (6)
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0106 |
Jožef Stefan Institute |
Ljubljana |
5051606000 |
90,664 |
Abstract
The purpose of the proposed project is to explore possible advances in positron emission tomography (PET), one of the most important non-invasive methods for in-depth and in-vivo imaging of tissue, made possible by a novel photo-detection device, the silicon photomultiplier. Such a device would be more compact than the existing ones, would work in magnetic field, would have a better resolution and would be easier to operate. As a part of the project, first the properties (spectral response, spatial dependence of the response, linearity, and noise rate) of individual silicon photomultipliers will be measured. An array of silicon photomultipliers will be used to equip a PET module with BGO as scintillator. The properties of such a device, essential for PET apllication, will be measured, in particular the spatial, energy and time resolutions. In the next phase both sides of the crystal, front and rear, will be equipped with arrays of silicon photomultipliers to measure the depth of interaction. This will enable an improvement in the reconstruction of the tomographic image through the correction of the parallax error. Finally, properties of a full prototype system with two modules will be measured on a standard phantom sample, and compared to existing PET devices.
Significance for science
The results of the project showed that the new method of PET imaging, based on the use of silicon photomultipliers as scintillation light sensors, is very promising. The results of the tests will enable the construction compact detection modules for annihilation gamma rays, used in positron tomography. The project also contributed to the progress of experimental methods in the field of elementary particle physics, in particular for identification of hadrons.
Significance for the country
The research carried out within this project contributed to progress in medical diagnostic tools and in the development of new drugs. In the first stage, an apparatus based on the modules developed within this project could serve as a small animal PET tomograph for studying processes in animals, while with further refinement it could lead to the development of a full-scale tomograph for clinical use, including a multimodal version in combination with an MRI scanner.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
