Andrew LaBella’s third journal paper is accepted in the J Nucl Med. titled ” High Resolution Depth-Encoding PET Detector Module with Prismatoid Light Guide Array.”
Our work presents a revolutionary approach for performing high resolution PET imaging which is both practical and cost-effective while being compatible with existing silicon photomultiplier-based readout systems and electronics. We’ve developed a light guide composed of a segmented array of prismatoids, which can be used to develop high resolution depth-encoding single-ended readout detector modules, which we call Prism-PET. We’ve fabricated and characterized Prism-PET detector modules with our prismatoid light guide using readout electronics currently employed in clinical PET systems. Prism-PET achieves perfect crystal identification accuracy throughout the entire detector array in both 4-to-1 and 9-to-1 coupled modules, along with 2.5 mm depth-of-interaction (DOI) resolution, which is the best reported experimental result in single-ended readout DOI modules. Our experimental results show that Prism-PET closely mimics the behavior and performance of dual-ended readout depth-encoding modules while also potentially enabling high count rate acquisition and excellent coincidence time resolution. Prism-PET can be used to develop PET systems for a wide array of applications, including small animal PET, organ-dedicated human PET and total-body human PET.