A high-resolution GSO-based brain PET camera

A high-resolution GSO-based PET camera is being developed for brain imaging. The system is based upon a detector that uses Anger-logic positioning with 4/spl times/4/spl times/10 mm/sup 3/ crystals coupled to a continuous light-guide and an array of 39-mm diameter photomultiplier tubes. Measurements of a small crystal array have demonstrated that individual crystals can be resolved. The system is 3D (no septa) with a diameter of 42 cm and an axial field-of-view of 25 cm. The detector and overall scanner design has been guided by Monte Carlo simulations. The GSO PET scanner will have improved spatial resolution and higher count-rate capability than the NaI(TI) HEAD Penn-PET scanner that was built previously. GSO was chosen because of its higher stopping power, faster decay, and excellent energy resolution, which is critical for good scatter rejection.