System performance simulations of the RatCAP awake rat brain scanner

We are evaluating the image reconstruction capabilities of RatCAP by using different modified versions of SimSET (Simulation System for Emission Tomography). We have been able to model the proposed tomograph that will consist of lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystals arranged in 12 4/spl times/8 blocks and have investigated how far the RatCAP's ring diameter (/spl sim/40 mm) and its block detector geometry will affect its image reconstruction for small animal studies. Since the field of view will be almost as large as the ring diameter, radial elongation artifacts due to parallax error are expected to degrade the spatial resolution and thus the image quality at the edge of the FOV. In addition to Monte Carlo simulation, we are presenting some preliminary results of experimentally acquired images in both 2D and 3D modes.