Next Generation SPECT Detectors

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a powerful, noninvasive medical imaging modality that mathematically reconstructs the three dimensional distribution of a radionuclide throughout the body of a human patient or research animal. At present, the performance of the available SPECT systems is limited by the available detector technology. The goal of the proposed effort is to investigate new gamma-ray detectors that have the potential to provide excellent energy resolution, a very important requirement in SPECT. High quality crystals of the new detector material will be produced, their properties will be evaluated and a prototype system will be implemented for conducting SPECT studies. The Phase I project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of producing new scintillation detectors with high energy resolution. The Phase I effort was very successful and new scintillation crystals with very high energy resolution and light output were produced. Based on the results, the feasibility of the proposed effort was adequately demonstrated. Optimization of detector, including scale-up and implementation is planned for Phase II effort. To achieve this goal, large scintillation crystals will be produced, their scintillation properties will be measured and then a high performance SPECT detection system will be assembled and tested in the Phase II project. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The proposed detector technology will be very promising for clinical SPECT applications. It will also be applicable to many other gamma-ray imaging systems for astronomy, non