Experimental sub-millimeter resolution with a small-animal RPC-PET prototype

A small-animal, positron emission tomograph based on resistive plate chamber detectors has been proposed (RPC-PET). We present experimental results of a system with submillimeter spatial resolution. An identification of the five gaps of the detectors was accomplished, allowing to measure the depth-of-interaction (DOl), and rendering parallax-free images. By imaging a
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Na disk source, a spatial resolution of 0.8 mm FWHM was demonstrated for the full area, covering all LOR angles. A 3D reconstruction routine based on the maximum-likelihood estimation maximization (MLEM) algorithm was implemented. Reconstructed images are presented reproducing the disk shape of the source.