A new geometry of scintillating crystals with Strip SiPMs: a PET detector with precise position and time determination

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel PET detector design using a specific crystal geometry and strip SiPMs, enabling highly precise 3D position and timing measurements of gamma interactions to improve imaging quality.

Contribution

It presents a new geometry of scintillating crystals with strip SiPMs for enhanced 3D position and time resolution in PET detectors, improving upon existing methods.

Findings

Achieved precise 3D localization of gamma interactions.

Enhanced time resolution for TOF-PET imaging.

Demonstrated improved image clarity through better timing accuracy.

Abstract

Measurement of the Time-of-Flight (TOF) of the 511 keV gammas brings an important reduction of statistical noise in the PET image, with higher precision time measurements producing clearer images. Scintillating crystals are used to convert the 511 keV annihilation photon to an electron of ~511 KeV energy via the photoelectric effect; it is necessary to determine with precision the position and time of this conversion within the scintillating crystal. We propose using an array of crystals cut into a specific geometry discussed below; these crystals are read out by an array of strip SiPMs. This technique allows individual time measurements of the first arriving photo-electrons and to extract the best time resolution using a specific algorithm. The final result is a precise determination of the 3D position (that includes the depth of interaction) of the photoelectric interaction and an improved time measurement.