Simulation and optimization of the Cherenkov TOF whole-body PET scanner

Alokhina, M.; Canot, Clotilde; Bezshyyko, Oleg; Каденко, І.; Tauzin, G.; Yvon, D.; Sharyy, Viatcheslav

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2018.01.027

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…We based the MC simulation framework on the GATE toolkit that we appropriately modified. Unlike previously published methods for the simulation of Cherenkov photons [ 49 ], [ 50 ], we used a statistical approach which apply multiple timing spreads on photon pairs considered for coincidence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TOF-PET Image Reconstruction With Multiple Timing Kernels Applied on Cherenkov Radiation in BGO

Efthimiou

Kratochwil

Gundacker

et al. 2021

IEEE Trans. Radiat. Plasma Med. Sci.

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Today Time-of-Flight (TOF), in PET scanners, assumes a single, well-defined timing resolution for all events. However, recent BGO–Cherenkov detectors, combining prompt Cherenkov emission and the typical BGO scintillation, can sort events into multiple timing kernels, best described by the Gaussian mixture models. The number of Cherenkov photons detected per event impacts directly the detector time resolution and signal rise time, which can later be used to improve the coincidence timing resolution. This work presents a simulation toolkit which applies multiple timing spreads on the coincident events and an image reconstruction that incorporates this information. A full cylindrical BGO–Cherenkov PET model was compared, in terms of contrast recovery and contrast-to-noise ratio, against an LYSO model with a time resolution of 213 ps. Two reconstruction approaches for the mixture kernels were tested: 1) mixture Gaussian and 2) decomposed simple Gaussian kernels. The decomposed model used the exact mixture component applied during the simulation. Images reconstructed using mixture kernels provided similar mean value and less noise than the decomposed. However, typically, more iterations were needed. Similarly, the LYSO model, with a single TOF kernel, converged faster than the BGO–Cherenkov with multiple kernels. The results indicate that the model complexity slows down convergence. However, due to the higher sensitivity, the contrast-to-noise ratio was 26.4% better for the BGO model.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TOF-PET Image Reconstruction With Multiple Timing Kernels Applied on Cherenkov Radiation in BGO

Efthimiou

Kratochwil

Gundacker

et al. 2021

IEEE Trans. Radiat. Plasma Med. Sci.

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“…Due to high density and high atomic number of the PbF 2 crystal, as well as the large detection surface, such a detector provides an efficiency of 24% suitable for building a TOF-PET scanner. For example, using the crystal matrix made with 6×6×10 mm 3 PbF 2 crystals attached to the MCP-PMT, one can design the whole body Cherenkov PET scanner, with performance comparable to conventional scanners, as estimated by the simulation with somewhat optimistic hypothesis [62,63]. Nevertheless, the performance of such a detection module stays modest due to the several limitations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast and efficient detection of 511 keV photons using Cherenkov light in PbF₂ crystal, coupled to a MCP-PMT and SAMPIC digitization module

et al. 2019

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A: We study the possibility to use the Cherenkov light for the efficient detection of 511 keV photons with the goal to use it in TOF-PET. We designed and tested two detection modules consisting of PbF 2 crystals attached to Planacon MCP-PMT XP85012. Amplified PMT signals are digitized by the SAMPIC module with high readout rate, up to 10 5 events/s, and a negligible contribution to the time resolution, below 20 ps (FWHM). We developed a fast 2D scanning system to calibrate the PMT time response and studied in details the timing characteristics of the Planacon PMT.Using a radioactive 22 Na source we measured a detection efficiency of 24% for 511 keV photons in a 10 mm thick crystal and a coincidence resolving time of 280 ps. We analyzed the main factors limiting the time resolution of the large-surface detection module and proposed solutions to improve it, which will be tested in our future project.

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“…Promising CTR performance of 156 ± 6, 188 ± 5, 228 ± 8, and 297 ± 8 ps CTR FWHM have been achieved for the 3, 5, 10, and 15 mm length BGO crystals, respectively. We believe these results will encourage TOF-PET system developers [26] looking for a low-cost solution while reporting <300 ps CTR. The novelty of the work presented here is the combination of the new NUV-sensitive Broadcom ® SiPMs with chemically etched BGO crystals, refined fast-timing readout circuitry, and the application of rise time correction signal processing methods.…”

mentioning

confidence: 84%

Cherenkov Radiation–Based Coincidence Time Resolution Measurements in BGO Scintillators

et al. 2022

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Bismuth germanate oxide (BGO) scintillators can be re-introduced in time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) by exploiting the Cherenkov luminescence emitted as a result from 511 keV interactions. Accessing the timing information from the relatively few emitted Cherenkov photons is now possible due to the recent improvements in enhanced near-ultraviolet high-density (NUV-HD) silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) technology, fast and low noise readout electronics, and the development of efficient data post-processing methods. In this work, we aim to develop a scalable detector element able to achieve excellent coincidence time resolution (CTR) required for TOF-PET using BGO scintillator elements of various lengths. The proposed detector element is optically coupled to 3.14 × 3.14 mm2 NUV-sensitive SiPMs mounted on a custom design circuit board. In particular, we have evaluated the CTR performance of BGO crystal elements of dimensions 3 × 3 × 3 mm3, 3 × 3 × 5 mm3, 3 × 3 × 10 mm3, and 3 × 3 × 15 mm3, with chemically etched surfaces and wrapped in Teflon tape. To achieve excellent CTR performance, we apply state-of-the-art post-processing methods during data analysis. Best values of 156 ± 6 ps, 188 ± 5 ps, 228 ± 8 ps, and 297 ± 8 ps CTR FWHM have been achieved for the 3, 5, 10, and 15 mm length BGO crystals, respectively. These values improve to 105 ± 6 ps, 127 ± 8 ps, 133 ± 4 ps, and 189 ± 8 ps CTR FWHM, when only considering the Cherenkov component of the timing signal, which is extracted by considering the events with the fastest rise time (20% of the total data). The accurate classification of the events based on their rise time is possible; thanks to the implementation of a dual threshold approach that sets the lower threshold below one light photon equivalent level and the upper one above the signal amplitude of a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD).

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Simulation and optimization of the Cherenkov TOF whole-body PET scanner

Cited by 10 publications

References 11 publications

TOF-PET Image Reconstruction With Multiple Timing Kernels Applied on Cherenkov Radiation in BGO

TOF-PET Image Reconstruction With Multiple Timing Kernels Applied on Cherenkov Radiation in BGO

Fast and efficient detection of 511 keV photons using Cherenkov light in PbF₂ crystal, coupled to a MCP-PMT and SAMPIC digitization module

Cherenkov Radiation–Based Coincidence Time Resolution Measurements in BGO Scintillators

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Simulation and optimization of the Cherenkov TOF whole-body PET scanner

Cited by 10 publications

References 11 publications

TOF-PET Image Reconstruction With Multiple Timing Kernels Applied on Cherenkov Radiation in BGO

TOF-PET Image Reconstruction With Multiple Timing Kernels Applied on Cherenkov Radiation in BGO

Fast and efficient detection of 511 keV photons using Cherenkov light in PbF2 crystal, coupled to a MCP-PMT and SAMPIC digitization module

Cherenkov Radiation–Based Coincidence Time Resolution Measurements in BGO Scintillators

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Fast and efficient detection of 511 keV photons using Cherenkov light in PbF₂ crystal, coupled to a MCP-PMT and SAMPIC digitization module