Development of an innovative PET technique using Geiger-mode APDs for future medical application

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22220010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Medical systems
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: KATAOKA Jun 早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 教授 (90334507)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IKEDA Hirokazu 宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 教授 (10132680) ; NAKAMORI Takeshi 山形大学, 理学部, 准教授 (30531876) ; NISHIKIDO Fumihiko 放射線医学総合研究所, 分子イメージング研究センター, 研究員 (60367117)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 次世代PET技術 / MPPC / DOI-PET / MRI-PET / TOF-PET

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed innovative technologies for the next-generation PET scanner utilizing the Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPCs). The key technologies developed here are (i) Depth-Of-Interaction (ii) Magnetic Resonance, and (iii) Time-of-Flight PET imaging techniques. For (i), we invented a novel technique of measuring the 3-D positions of gamma-ray absorption in the scintillators by dual-readout of MPPCs. A virtual 18-ch PET gantry system achieved excellent image resolution of 0.9 mm (FWHM) at the center of FOV, which only slightly degraded to 1.5 mm at the off-center. We also fabricated a compact MRI/PET module designed for small animals that can be used in 4.7 T MRI system. Finally, we designed two front-end ASICs for future PET scanners with Time-Of-Flight (TOF) capability to be coupled with 4×4 MPPC-arrays. We confirmed excellent time resolution of 213 psec for a MPPC pixel, and 489 psec (FWHM) for MPPC-array, as measured using back-to-back 511-keV gamma rays.

Free Research Field

放射線計測、高エネルギー宇宙物理、医学物理