Development of Cherenkov-based TOF-PET with superior time resolution

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K15209
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Medical Physics and Radiological Technology
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: IIJIMA Toru 名古屋大学, 現象解析研究センター, 教授 (80270396)
• Research Collaborator: KOBAYASHI Kazuho 名古屋大学, 大学院理学研究科, 大学院生 ; KRIZAN Peter 名古屋大学, 現象解析研究センター, 客員教授
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 放射線検出器 / TOF-PET / 半導体光検出器

Outline of Final Research Achievements

TOF-PET(Positron Emission Tomography) is one of the most advanced medical imaging technology. which utilizes the TOF( Tme-Of-Fligh) difference between the two annihilation gamma's to reconstruct images with improved signal-to-noise ratio. We have studied possibility to improve the TOF-PET performance using a Cherenkov radiator instead of a scintillator to detect gamma's, as application of technology developed for recent particle physics experiments. We have demonstrated that Cherenkov-based TOF-PET provides TOF resolution of about 120ps, a few times better compared to that reported for a scintillator-based TOF-PET. Our research shows that it is possible to develop high performance TOF-PET with relatively low cost, also by using a semiconductor photodetector device with improved photo detection efficiency and improved time resolution.

Free Research Field

素粒子実験