Electronics upgrade and crystal geometry optimization for a sub-millimeter small animal PET based on continuous crystals and SiPMs

A prototype of a high resolution small animal PET scanner with continuous LYSO crystals coupled to SiPM matrices has been developed. Images of point-like sources in different positions of the FOV have been obtained with a FWHM better than 1 mm. In the near future, a full-ring PET will be developed. Due to the increase in the number of detector heads, a new Data Acquisition (DAQ) system is needed. First tests with the VATA64HDR16 ASIC from Gamma Medica - IDEAS have been carried out. Also, the use of tapered crystals is being considered for reduction of the gaps between detectors and therefore increase the full-ring sensitivity.