Simulated One-Pass List-Mode: A highly flexible method of image reconstruction for PET

Simulated One Pass List-mode is a means of image-reconstruction that distributes on-the-fly calculations of the full system matrix across multiple iterations during Maximum Likelihood-Expectation Maximization image reconstruction. On the fly list-mode processing of coincidence data provides a very flexible approach to image reconstruction that can be applied to many novel systems for Positron Emission Tomography. However, in addition to standard on-the-fly calculation and list-mode methods, Simulated One Pass List-mode provides for extra possibilities during image reconstruction. Two possibilities are investigated here: system modeling accuracy can be altered at each iteration and enhanced modeling can be conduced only for specific Regions of Interest. In this investigation simulated data from a simple two dimensional PET system is used to demonstrate these two advantages of Simulated One Pass List-mode image reconstruction for Positron Emission Tomography.