Speaker
Description
The limited deployment of positron emission tomography (PET) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is primarily driven by the high cost and complexity of conventional systems. We present a high-performance, modular time-of-flight (TOF) PET detector concept under development within the Horizon Europe EIC Pathfinder project PetVision, aimed at significantly reducing system cost while maintaining state-of-the-art imaging performance.
The proposed architecture integrates fast silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) with compact, low-noise front-end electronics and high-speed digitisation to achieve coincidence timing resolution (CTR) below 100 ps FWHM. Detector modules are based on 3 × 3 mm² channel pitch with 10 mm long LYSO scintillator crystals, coupled to high photon detection efficiency SiPM arrays. The readout chain is built around the PoETIC ASIC, enabling precise timing extraction with a power consumption of approximately 10 mW per channel, supporting high channel density with manageable thermal load.
A key innovation is the use of large-area flat-panel detectors (≈30 × 30 cm²), enabled by the excellent TOF performance. This approach departs from conventional cylindrical PET geometries and allows flexible, reconfigurable system layouts. The enhanced timing resolution compensates for reduced scintillator volume, enabling a substantial decrease in scintillator material—one of the primary cost drivers—while preserving sensitivity and image quality. The modular panel design further reduces system complexity, facilitates scalable assembly, and simplifies integration.
The system is currently at TRL 3, with component-level validation including SiPM tile performance, front-end electronics characterisation, and timing measurements, supported by detailed Monte Carlo simulations. Ongoing developments target TRL 5–6 through integration of full detector panels, scalable readout architecture, and prototype system validation. Early results indicate that the proposed concept can match the performance of current clinical PET systems while significantly reducing material and system costs.
By combining advances in photosensor technology, compact low-power electronics, and system-level optimisation, this work establishes modular TOF-PET as a key enabling technology for cost-effective and scalable nuclear medicine imaging. The proposed approach provides a viable pathway toward broader deployment of PET systems, including in resource-constrained environments, supporting improved access to advanced diagnostic imaging.
| Track | Deployment of Nuclear Medicine in LMICs: Enabling Technologies |
|---|---|
| Presentation type | Oral |