High Performance PET Detector

72199-Proton Emission Tomography (PET) is a powerful imaging tool that can provide diagnosis for symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimer¿s, cancer, head trauma, and stroke. The performance of current clinical PET systems is limited by available detector technology. An urgent need exists to improve the PET instrumentation in order to exploit the full potential of this promising technique. This project will investigate a new design of PET detectors that promises to provide high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, and depth-of-interaction (DOI) information. The cost of the proposed detectors is also expected to be modest. Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of producing high resolution, low cost detector modules for PET imaging. In addition, a PET module was constructed and extensively evaluated. Phase II will fabricate a high performance, bench-top PET system for brain imaging. The system will provide high resolution and high sensitivity, and will have the capability to estimate DOI. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The proposed detector technology should be very promising for clinical, dedicated organ and small animal PET imaging, as well as for other medical imaging modalities such as SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography). Other applications include nuclear and high energy physics, astronomy, diffraction, non-destructive studies, and nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards.