Photon-counting gamma camera based on columnar CsI(Tl) optically coupled to a back-illuminated CCD

Brian W. Miller; H. Bradford Barber; Harrison H. Barrett; Liying Chen; Sean J. Taylor

doi:10.1117/12.710109

Photon-counting gamma camera based on columnar CsI(Tl) optically coupled to a back-illuminated CCD

Brian W. Miller, H. Bradford Barber, Harrison H. Barrett, Liying Chen, Sean J. Taylor

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent advances have been made in a new class of CCD-based, single-photon-counting gamma-ray detectors which offer sub-100 μm intrinsic resolutions. ^1-7 These detectors show great promise in small-animal SPECT and molecular imaging and exist in a variety of configurations. Typically, a columnar CsI(Tl) scintillator or a radiography screen (Gd ₂O ₂S:Tb) is imaged onto the CCD. Gamma-ray interactions are seen as clusters of signal spread over multiple pixels. When the detector is operated in a charge-integration mode, signal spread across pixels results in spatial-resolution degradation. However, if the detector is operated in photon-counting mode, the gamma-ray interaction position can be estimated using either Anger (centroid) estimation or maximum-likelihood position estimation resulting in a substantial improvement in spatial resolution. ² Due to the low-light-level nature of the scintillation process, CCD-based gamma cameras implement an amplification stage in the CCD via electron multiplying (EMCCDs) ^8-10 or via an image intensifier prior to the optical path. ¹ We have applied ideas and techniques from previous systems to our high-resolution LumiSPECT detector. ^11,12 LumiSPECT is a dual-modality optical/SPECT small-animal imaging system which was originally designed to operate in charge-integration mode. It employs a cryogenically cooled, high-quantum-efficiency, back-illuminated large-format CCD and operates in single-photon-counting mode without any intermediate amplification process. Operating in photon-counting mode, the detector has an intrinsic spatial resolution of 64 μm compared to 134 μm in integrating mode.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Medical Imaging 2007
Subtitle of host publication	Physics of Medical Imaging
Edition	PART 1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.710109
State	Published - 2007
Externally published	Yes
Event	Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging - San Diego, CA, United States Duration: Feb 18 2007 → Feb 22 2007

Publication series

Name	Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Number	PART 1
Volume	6510
ISSN (Print)	1605-7422

Other

Other	Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Diego, CA
Period	2/18/07 → 2/22/07

Keywords

Bazooka SPECT detector
Columnar CsI(Tl)
EMCCD
Molecular imaging
Photon-counting
SPECT

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Biomaterials
Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Access to Document

10.1117/12.710109

Cite this

Miller, B. W., Barber, H. B., Barrett, H. H., Chen, L., & Taylor, S. J. (2007). Photon-counting gamma camera based on columnar CsI(Tl) optically coupled to a back-illuminated CCD. In Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging (PART 1 ed.). Article 65100N (Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE; Vol. 6510, No. PART 1). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.710109

Photon-counting gamma camera based on columnar CsI(Tl) optically coupled to a back-illuminated CCD. / Miller, Brian W.; Barber, H. Bradford; Barrett, Harrison H. et al.
Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging. PART 1. ed. 2007. 65100N (Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE; Vol. 6510, No. PART 1).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Miller, BW, Barber, HB, Barrett, HH, Chen, L & Taylor, SJ 2007, Photon-counting gamma camera based on columnar CsI(Tl) optically coupled to a back-illuminated CCD. in Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging. PART 1 edn, 65100N, Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE, no. PART 1, vol. 6510, Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging, San Diego, CA, United States, 2/18/07. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.710109

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abstract = "Recent advances have been made in a new class of CCD-based, single-photon-counting gamma-ray detectors which offer sub-100 μm intrinsic resolutions. 1-7 These detectors show great promise in small-animal SPECT and molecular imaging and exist in a variety of configurations. Typically, a columnar CsI(Tl) scintillator or a radiography screen (Gd 2O 2S:Tb) is imaged onto the CCD. Gamma-ray interactions are seen as clusters of signal spread over multiple pixels. When the detector is operated in a charge-integration mode, signal spread across pixels results in spatial-resolution degradation. However, if the detector is operated in photon-counting mode, the gamma-ray interaction position can be estimated using either Anger (centroid) estimation or maximum-likelihood position estimation resulting in a substantial improvement in spatial resolution. 2 Due to the low-light-level nature of the scintillation process, CCD-based gamma cameras implement an amplification stage in the CCD via electron multiplying (EMCCDs) 8-10 or via an image intensifier prior to the optical path. 1 We have applied ideas and techniques from previous systems to our high-resolution LumiSPECT detector. 11,12 LumiSPECT is a dual-modality optical/SPECT small-animal imaging system which was originally designed to operate in charge-integration mode. It employs a cryogenically cooled, high-quantum-efficiency, back-illuminated large-format CCD and operates in single-photon-counting mode without any intermediate amplification process. Operating in photon-counting mode, the detector has an intrinsic spatial resolution of 64 μm compared to 134 μm in integrating mode.",

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Photon-counting gamma camera based on columnar CsI(Tl) optically coupled to a back-illuminated CCD

Abstract

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Keywords

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