Next-generation PET capability with lutetium fine silicate and multi-pixel photon counter

Currently, positron emission tomography (PET) systems are rapidly developing owing to the invention of new scintillators and photosensors, which contribute to construction of clearer and high-resolution images in cancer diagnosis. In this study, we used a Lutetium Fine Silicate (LFS) inorganic scintillator and multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC) as a photosensor. This combination is realistic for next-generation PET systems. These devices were directly coupled to form a unit detector. A pair of detector units was placed face-to-face, and they simultaneously detected annihilation gamma rays, assuming a pair detector in the PET system. A timing resolution of 96 ps in full width at half maximum (FWHM) was obtained. This result is almost the fastest timing resolution ever achieved. A good timing resolution contributes to noise reduction that leads to clear images. Furthermore, a spatial resolution of 1.9 mm in FWHM was obtained, which is sufficient to meet the spatial resolution requirements for next-generation PET systems.ArticleJOURNAL OF INSTRUMENTATION. 7:P10014 (2012)journal articl