Background :
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful technique used in diagnosis, treatment selection, monitoring, and research in cancer and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the technology has not reached its full potential due to its relatively low spatial resolution. There have been several attempts to achieve high-resolution PET, but as spatial resolution improves, the amount of data per PET scan increases significantly. The data size problem is further exacerbated by depth‑encoding, which is necessary to mitigate parallax error and fully reap the benefits of high resolution. A similar effect is observed when combining high resolution with a time‑of‑flight (TOF) readout. As the data rate increases, the number of connections between the optical sensors and the readout application‑specific integrated circuit (ASIC) increases, thereby increasing the heat generated by the device. Using a one‑to‑one coupling between readout pixels and channels is inefficient, since not all pixels need to be read out per event. Single multiplexing, in which signals read out by multiple optical sensors (pixels) per event are summed, has been proposed to reduce data size and complexity, thereby making PET less computationally expensive. However, where the signals are multiplexed, solutions must still be able to determine primary optical sensor (pixel) interaction, primary scintillator module interaction, depth‑of‑interaction (DOI), and TOF. In some multiplexing systems, the detector modules don’t have depth‑encoding capabilities, which are vital for achieving spatial resolution uniformity. Additionally, multiplexing schemes may also impact the timing resolution. However, when done properly, multiplexing can improve power efficiency, data efficiency, and cost-effectiveness without sacrificing detector module performance.
Technology Overview :
Researchers at Stony Brook University (SBU) have developed a multiplexing scheme for deterministic light-sharing PET modules such as Prism‑PET, enabling a multiplexed readout that minimally impacts performance. Prism‑PET requires only the 4 highest-readout signals per event to achieve optimal DOI localization. Since Prism‑PET localizes intercrystal light sharing to the 4 nearest-neighbor crystals using a segmented prismatoid light guide array, multiplexing can be implemented without sacrificing spatial or energy resolution. In this embodiment, the pixel‑to‑channel coupling scheme is chosen so that channels read out only groups of pixels that aren’t expected to share intercrystal light. The proposed design can achieve up to a 64‑to‑1 crystal‑to‑channel ratio by coupling crystals to pixels at 4‑to‑1 and pixels to channels at 16‑to‑1. The multiplexing scheme also reads out timestamps at the ASIC level rather than per channel, further reducing power consumption without sacrificing coincidence time resolution. Thus, researchers have developed a PET particle detection system with increased power and data efficiency and reduced PET readout cost.
Advantages :
Applications :
Intellectual Property Summary : 12,360,262, JP7809699
Stage of Development :
Licensing Status : Available
Licensing Potential : Development partner - Commercial partner - Licensing
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