System and method for improving detection of gamma interactions in a positron emission tomography system
    1.
    发明授权
    System and method for improving detection of gamma interactions in a positron emission tomography system 有权
    用于改善正电子发射断层摄影系统中γ相互作用检测的系统和方法

    公开(公告)号:US09091771B2

    公开(公告)日:2015-07-28

    申请号:US13539915

    申请日:2012-07-02

    摘要: A system and method are provided for determining the onset of gamma interactions for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging more accurately than with existing techniques. The timing of a sequence of primary trigger events is obtained and used to determine a weighted combination, which mixes the timing information from the various primary trigger events to compute an overall event trigger timing with improved time resolution. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the invention improves time resolution by approximately 10% over state-of-the-art methods. This improved time resolution directly benefits the imaging performance of the PET scanner, especially in time-of-flight (TOF) mode, where a high time resolution directly translates to a reduction in image noise at the same dose—or, alternatively, a reduction of dose to the patient or scan time for the same image quality.

    摘要翻译: 提供了一种系统和方法,用于比现有技术更准确地确定正电子发射断层摄影(PET)成像的γ相互作用的发生。 获得主要触发事件序列的定时并用于确定加权组合,其混合来自各种主要触发事件的定时信息以通过改进的时间分辨率计算总体事件触发时序。 数值模拟表明,本发明使用最先进的方法将时间分辨率提高约10%。 这种改进的时间分辨率直接有利于PET扫描仪的成像性能,特别是在飞行时间(TOF)模式下,其中高时间分辨率直接转换为以相同剂量降低图像噪声,或者替代地,减少 给予患者剂量或扫描时间相同的图像质量。

    System and Method for Improving Detection of Gamma Interactions in a Positron Emission Tomography System
    2.
    发明申请
    System and Method for Improving Detection of Gamma Interactions in a Positron Emission Tomography System 有权
    用于改善正电子发射断层扫描系统中伽马相互作用检测的系统和方法

    公开(公告)号:US20130009063A1

    公开(公告)日:2013-01-10

    申请号:US13539915

    申请日:2012-07-02

    IPC分类号: G01T1/164

    摘要: A system and method are provided for determining the onset of gamma interactions for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging more accurately than with existing techniques. The timing of a sequence of primary trigger events is obtained and used to determine a weighted combination, which mixes the timing information from the various primary trigger events to compute an overall event trigger timing with improved time resolution. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the invention improves time resolution by approximately 10% over state-of-the-art methods. This improved time resolution directly benefits the imaging performance of the PET scanner, especially in time-of-flight (TOF) mode, where a high time resolution directly translates to a reduction in image noise at the same dose—or, alternatively, a reduction of dose to the patient or scan time for the same image quality.

    摘要翻译: 提供了一种系统和方法,用于比现有技术更准确地确定正电子发射断层摄影(PET)成像的γ相互作用的发生。 获得主要触发事件序列的定时并用于确定加权组合,其混合来自各种主要触发事件的定时信息以通过改进的时间分辨率计算总体事件触发时序。 数值模拟表明,本发明使用最先进的方法将时间分辨率提高约10%。 这种改进的时间分辨率直接有利于PET扫描仪的成像性能,特别是在飞行时间(TOF)模式下,其中高时间分辨率直接转换为以相同剂量降低图像噪声,或者替代地,减少 给予患者剂量或扫描时间相同的图像质量。

    High Density, Proportional-Mode, APD Arrays for Individual Scintillator Readout in PET Applications
    4.
    发明申请
    High Density, Proportional-Mode, APD Arrays for Individual Scintillator Readout in PET Applications 有权
    高密度,比例模式,APD阵列用于PET应用中的单个闪烁读出

    公开(公告)号:US20120112083A1

    公开(公告)日:2012-05-10

    申请号:US12943164

    申请日:2010-11-10

    IPC分类号: G01T1/20

    CPC分类号: G01T1/1642 A61B6/037

    摘要: The present invention is a photodetector including improved photosensors configured of an array of small (sub-millimeter) high-density avalanche photodiode cells utilized to readout a single scintillator. Each photosensor comprises a plurality of avalanche photodiodes cells arranged in an (n×n) array of avalanche photodiode cells (where, n>1) that are coupled to a single scintillation crystal. The overall (n×n) array area as the photosensor is the same as the area of a face of the scintillator and each avalanche photodiode cell has a surface area that is not greater than one square millimeter. The photosensor is also configured to facilitate reading the output of each avalanche photodiode cell in the array. By reading out each small avalanche photodiode cell independently, the noise and capacitance are minimized and thereby provide a more accurate determination of energy and timing.

    摘要翻译: 本发明是一种光电检测器,其包括由用于读出单个闪烁体的小(亚毫米)高密度雪崩光电二极管阵列的阵列构成的改进的光电传感器。 每个光传感器包括以与单个闪烁晶体耦合的雪崩光电二极管单元(其中,n> 1)的(n×n)阵列排列的多个雪崩光电二极管单元。 作为光传感器的整体(n×n)阵列区域与闪烁体的面的面积相同,并且每个雪崩光电二极管单元的表面积不大于1平方毫米。 光传感器还被配置为便于读取阵列中每个雪崩光电二极管单元的输出。 通过独立地读出每个小雪崩光电二极管单元,噪声和电容被最小化,从而提供更准确的能量和时间的确定。

    High density, proportional-mode, APD arrays for individual scintillator readout in PET applications
    5.
    发明授权
    High density, proportional-mode, APD arrays for individual scintillator readout in PET applications 有权
    用于PET应用中单个闪烁体读数的高密度,比例模式,APD阵列

    公开(公告)号:US08247780B2

    公开(公告)日:2012-08-21

    申请号:US12943164

    申请日:2010-11-10

    IPC分类号: G01T1/20

    CPC分类号: G01T1/1642 A61B6/037

    摘要: The present invention is a photodetector including improved photosensors configured of an array of small (sub-millimeter) high-density avalanche photodiode cells utilized to readout a single scintillator. Each photosensor comprises a plurality of avalanche photodiodes cells arranged in an (n×n) array of avalanche photodiode cells (where, n>1) that are coupled to a single scintillation crystal. The overall (n×n) array area as the photosensor is the same as the area of a face of the scintillator and each avalanche photodiode cell has a surface area that is not greater than one square millimeter. The photosensor is also configured to facilitate reading the output of each avalanche photodiode cell in the array. By reading out each small avalanche photodiode cell independently, the noise and capacitance are minimized and thereby provide a more accurate determination of energy and timing.

    摘要翻译: 本发明是一种光电检测器,其包括由用于读出单个闪烁体的小(亚毫米)高密度雪崩光电二极管阵列的阵列构成的改进的光电传感器。 每个光传感器包括以与单个闪烁晶体耦合的雪崩光电二极管单元(其中,n> 1)的(n×n)阵列排列的多个雪崩光电二极管单元。 作为光传感器的整体(n×n)阵列区域与闪烁体的面的面积相同,并且每个雪崩光电二极管单元的表面积不大于1平方毫米。 光传感器还被配置为便于读取阵列中每个雪崩光电二极管单元的输出。 通过独立地读出每个小雪崩光电二极管单元,噪声和电容被最小化,从而提供更准确的能量和时间的确定。

    System and Method for Providing Depth of Interaction Detection Using Positron Emission Tomography
    6.
    发明申请
    System and Method for Providing Depth of Interaction Detection Using Positron Emission Tomography 有权
    使用正电子发射断层扫描提供相互作用检测深度的系统和方法

    公开(公告)号:US20110192982A1

    公开(公告)日:2011-08-11

    申请号:US13017617

    申请日:2011-01-31

    IPC分类号: G01T1/164 G01T1/20

    摘要: A system and method is provided for determining depth of interaction (DOI) information. The system and method includes a detector configured to generate DOI information as a result of radiation emitted from a radiation source. The system and method further includes a plurality of scintillator pixels forming a block, wherein the plurality of scintillator pixels have a first portion and a second portion. A first medium distributed in an alternating pattern of coupling and separation between each of the scintillator pixels in a first portion or second portion of the block is also provided. A plurality of sensors for detecting scintillation events across the plurality of scintillators based on the alternating pattern of coupling and separation between each of the scintillator pixels, wherein DOI information is provided by a position profile of the block, and an image processor for generating a 3 dimensional image from the DOI information are also included.

    摘要翻译: 提供了用于确定交互深度(DOI)信息的系统和方法。 该系统和方法包括检测器,被配置为产生作为辐射源发射的辐射的结果的DOI信息。 该系统和方法还包括形成块的多个闪烁体像素,其中多个闪烁体像素具有第一部分和第二部分。 还提供了分布在块的第一部分或第二部分中的每个闪烁体像素之间的耦合和分离的交替模式的第一介质。 多个传感器,用于基于每个闪烁体像素之间的耦合和分离的交替模式来检测跨多个闪烁体的闪烁事件,其中DOI信息由块的位置分布提供,以及用于产生3的闪烁体的图像处理器 还包括来自DOI信息的三维图像。

    System and method for providing depth of interaction detection using positron emission tomography
    7.
    发明授权
    System and method for providing depth of interaction detection using positron emission tomography 有权
    使用正电子发射断层扫描提供相互作用检测深度的系统和方法

    公开(公告)号:US09513387B2

    公开(公告)日:2016-12-06

    申请号:US13017617

    申请日:2011-01-31

    摘要: A system and method is provided for determining depth of interaction (DOI) information. The system and method includes a detector configured to generate DOI information as a result of radiation emitted from a radiation source. The system and method further includes a plurality of scintillator pixels forming a block, wherein the plurality of scintillator pixels have a first portion and a second portion. A first medium distributed in an alternating pattern of coupling and separation between each of the scintillator pixels in a first portion or second portion of the block is also provided. A plurality of sensors for detecting scintillation events across the plurality of scintillators based on the alternating pattern of coupling and separation between each of the scintillator pixels, wherein DOI information is provided by a position profile of the block, and an image processor for generating a 3 dimensional image from the DOI information are also included.

    摘要翻译: 提供了用于确定交互深度(DOI)信息的系统和方法。 该系统和方法包括检测器,被配置为产生作为辐射源发射的辐射的结果的DOI信息。 该系统和方法还包括形成块的多个闪烁体像素,其中多个闪烁体像素具有第一部分和第二部分。 还提供了分布在块的第一部分或第二部分中的每个闪烁体像素之间的耦合和分离的交替模式的第一介质。 多个传感器,用于基于每个闪烁体像素之间的耦合和分离的交替模式来检测跨多个闪烁体的闪烁事件,其中DOI信息由块的位置分布提供,以及用于产生3的闪烁体的图像处理器 还包括来自DOI信息的三维图像。

    SiPM photosensor with early signal digitization
    8.
    发明授权
    SiPM photosensor with early signal digitization 有权
    具有早期信号数字化的SiPM光电传感器

    公开(公告)号:US08476571B2

    公开(公告)日:2013-07-02

    申请号:US12898771

    申请日:2010-10-06

    IPC分类号: H01J40/14 G01T1/20

    摘要: The present invention is a Silicon PhotoMulitplier comprising a plurality of photon detection cell clusters each comprising a plurality of avalanche photodiodes connected in parallel, so that the output of each avalanche photodiode is summed together and applied to a cell cluster output. Each of the plurality of cell cluster outputs is connected to one of a plurality of cluster readout circuits, each of which includes an analog to digital converter that converts an analog representation of the total energy received by a photon detection cell cluster to a digital energy signal. A SiPM Pixel reader circuit is connected to the plurality of cluster readout circuits and configured to generate an overall pixel output by digital processing the plurality of digital energy signals received from the plurality of photon detection cell clusters by way of the plurality of cluster readout circuits. The SIPM pixel reader circuit also receives digital signals representative of timing triggers and the total energy received by a specific photon detection cell cluster and generates an overall SiPM energy signal and overall timing trigger in response to the signals received from the plurality of cluster readout circuits.

    摘要翻译: 本发明是一种硅光电倍增管,其包括多个光子检测单元簇,每个多个光子检测单元簇包括并联连接的多个雪崩光电二极管,从而将每个雪崩光电二极管的输出相加在一起并应用于单元簇输出。 多个单元群输出中的每一个连接到多个群集读出电路中的一个,每个簇读出电路包括模拟数字转换器,其将由光子检测单元簇接收的总能量的模拟表示转换为数字能量信号 。 SiPM像素读取器电路连接到多个群集读出电路,并且被配置为通过多个群集读出电路数字处理从多个光子检测单元簇接收的多个数字能量信号来生成整体像素输出。 SIPM像素读取器电路还接收表示定时触发的数字信号和由特定光子检测单元簇接收的总能量,并且响应于从多个簇读出电路接收的信号而产生整体SiPM能量信号和总体定时触发。

    Providing variable cell density and sizes in a radiation detector
    9.
    发明授权
    Providing variable cell density and sizes in a radiation detector 有权
    在辐射检测器中提供可变细胞密度和尺寸

    公开(公告)号:US08791514B2

    公开(公告)日:2014-07-29

    申请号:US13540079

    申请日:2012-07-02

    IPC分类号: H01L27/146 G01T1/24

    CPC分类号: G01T1/248 H01L27/14658

    摘要: An apparatus and method to decrease light saturation in a photosensor array and increase detection efficiency uses a light distribution profile from a scintillator-photodetector geometry to configure the photosensor array to have a non-uniform sensor cell pattern, with varying cell density and/or varying cell size and shape. A solid-state photosensor such as a SiPM sensor having such a non-uniform cell structure realizes improved energy resolution, higher efficiency and increased signal linearity. In addition the non-uniform sensor cell array can have improved timing resolution due to improvements in statistical fluctuations. A particular embodiment for such photosensors is in PET medical imaging.

    摘要翻译: 降低光传感器阵列中的光饱和度并提高检测效率的装置和方法使用来自闪烁体 - 光电检测器几何形状的光分布分布来配置光传感器阵列具有不均匀的传感器单元图案,具有变化的单元密度和/或变化 细胞大小和形状。 诸如具有这种非均匀单元结构的SiPM传感器的固态光电传感器实现了改进的能量分辨率,更高的效率和更高的信号线性度。 此外,由于统计波动的改善,非均匀传感器单元阵列可以改善时序分辨率。 这种感光器的特定实施例是在PET医学成像中。

    Energy Correction for One-To-One Coupled Radiation Detectors Having Non-Linear Sensors
    10.
    发明申请
    Energy Correction for One-To-One Coupled Radiation Detectors Having Non-Linear Sensors 有权
    具有非线性传感器的一对一耦合辐射检测器的能量校正

    公开(公告)号:US20130009047A1

    公开(公告)日:2013-01-10

    申请号:US13539931

    申请日:2012-07-02

    IPC分类号: G01T1/20 G01T1/202

    CPC分类号: G01T1/248 G01T1/202

    摘要: Systems and methods for correcting output signals from non-linear photosensors, specifically silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). SiPMs are used in a PET detector to readout light emissions from LSO scintillator crystals. The non-linear output of the SiPM can distort and compress the energy spectrum which is crucial in PET imaging. The non-linearity effect for inter-crystal scattered events can place an energy event outside of the PET detector energy window, resulting in a rejected event. Systems and methods to correct the SiPM non-linearity for inter-crystal scattered events, so as to be able to obtain the proper energy event and produce an accurate medical image, are disclosed.

    摘要翻译: 用于校正非线性光电传感器,特别是硅光电倍增管(SiPM)的输出信号的系统和方法。 SiPM用于PET检测器以读出LSO闪烁体晶体的光发射。 SiPM的非线性输出可以扭曲和压缩在PET成像中至关重要的能谱。 晶体间散射事件的非线性效应可以将能量事件置于PET检测器能量窗口之外,导致被拒绝的事件。 公开了用于校正晶间散射事件的SiPM非线性的系统和方法,以便能够获得适当的能量事件并产生精确的医学图像。