Time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOFPET) assembly and related method thereof
A time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOFPET) assembly for detecting lesions of a breast of a subject, wherein the subject may anatomically be defined with a median plane and chest wall-coronal plane. The assembly may comprise: a detector array having at least two or more detector segments. The detector segments may include: a scintillator for placement toward the target, the scintillator having a top edge generally closest to the subject and a detection surface wall aligned closest to surrounding the breast, a photo multiplier opposite the scintillator, and a readout connected to the photo multiplier. The assembly may also comprise a processor that receives the acquired tracer emission signals and converts the signals into a three dimensional, tomographic image reconstruction. The detector array is defined by a ring surrounding the breast and the face of ring that may be tilted to offset the chest wall-coronal plane of the subject, and wherein one of the top edges of one of the detector segments is above the chest wall-coronal plane of the subject in the posterior direction.
1 . A time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOFPET) assembly for simultaneously detecting lesions of both of a first breast and a second breast of a subject, wherein said subject is anatomically defined with a median plane and chest wall-coronal plane, said assembly comprising:
a first detector array and a second detector array that each occupy at least a portion of respective spaces defining rings configured for surrounding the first breast and the second breast, wherein said first detector array and said second detector array each have a first detector segment and a second detector segment,
wherein for said first detector array and said second detector array, said first detector segment and said second detector segment are each positioned in the assembly and configured for being located anterior to the subject,
wherein the first detector segment and the second detector segment of each detector array are distributed asymmetrically when configured for positioning relative to the first breast and the second breast;
wherein said first detector segment and said second detector segment each include:
a first scintillator and a second scintillator, configured for placement toward a target of said first breast and said second breast;
a first photomultiplier and a second photomultiplier, located opposite said first scintillator and said second scintillator, and
a first readout and a second readout, connected to said first photomultiplier and said second photomultiplier;
wherein said first detector segment and said second detector segment are configured to acquire tracer emission signals from the target of said first breast and said second breast;
a processor that receives the acquired tracer emission signals and converts the acquired tracer emission signals into a three dimensional, tomographic image reconstruction thereby representing the simultaneous detection of lesions of both of the first breast and the second breast of the subject; and
wherein for the first detector segment or the second detector segment positioned asymmetrically when relative to the respective breasts and anterior to the subject, a top edge of either said first detector segment or said second detector segment is above the chest wall-coronal plane of the subject and anterior to the subject, wherein the position images a base of the breast at the chest wall-coronal plane,
wherein for said first detector array and said second detector array:
said first detector segment and said second detector segment collectively define a first imaging ring and a second imaging ring,
wherein said first imaging ring comprises a first face and said second imaging ring comprises a second face, said first face and second face configured for being anterior to the subject and configured to at least partially surround the first breast and the second breast, respectively, and said first face or said second face positioned at a tilt configured to define an offset from the chest wall-coronal plane of the subject, wherein the tilt comprises an imaging angle configured for extending from a top edge of the first detector segment or the second detector segment toward the chest wall coronal plane, and wherein the imaging angle is in the range of about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees.
2 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first slant imaging light guide extending from said first scintillator to said first photomultiplier; and
a second slant imaging light guide extending from said second scintillator to said second photomultiplier.
3 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the imaging angle is in the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
4 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the imaging angle is in the range of about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees.
5 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the imaging angle is in the range of about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees.
6 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the imaging angle is in the range of about 45 degrees to about 70 degrees.
7 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first detector segment and said second detector segment are configured to acquire the acquired tracer emission signals at a timing resolution, and wherein said timing resolution is in the range of one of the following ranges:
about 100 ps to about 300 ps;
about 150 ps to about 250 ps;
about 200 ps to about 300 ps; or
about 250 ps to about 300 ps.
8 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first detector segment and said second detector segment are configured to acquire the acquired tracer emission signals at a timing resolution, and wherein said timing resolution is in the range of about 300 to about 600 picoseconds (ps).
9 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 8 , wherein said first detector segment and said second detector segment are configured to acquire the acquired tracer emission signals at a timing resolution, and wherein said timing resolution is in the range of one of the following ranges:
about 300 ps to about 400 ps;
about 500 ps to about 600 ps;
about 400 ps to about 500 ps; or
about 400 ps to about 600 ps.
10 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a table configured for receiving the subject in a prone position, said table including a downward extending aperture configured for receiving each of the first breast and the second breast of the subject.
11 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first scintillator and said second scintillator comprise scintillator crystals.
12 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 11 , wherein said scintillator crystals comprises at least one of any combination of the following:
Lutetium Orthosilicate (LSO), Lutetium Yttrium Orthosilicate (LYSO), Lutetium Aluminium Perovskite (LuAP), Lutetium Fine Silicate (LFS), Gadolinium Oxyorthosilicate (GSO), Gadolinium-Yttrium Oxyorthosilicate (GYSO), Bismuth Germanate (BGO), Sodium Iodide (NaI(Tl)), Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr3), or Cerium-Doped Lutetium Yttrium Oxyorthosilicate (Ce:LYSO).
13 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first detector array occupies about ⅚ of a first space defining a first ring configured for placement around the first breast and said second detector array occupies about ⅚ of a second space a second ring configured for placement around the second breast.
14 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first detector array occupies about ⅔ of a first space defining a first ring configured for placement around the first breast and said second detector array occupies about ⅔ of a second space a second ring configured for placement around the second breast.
15 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first detector array occupies 50% of a first space defining a first ring configured for placement around the first breast and said second detector array occupies 50% of a second space a second ring configured for placement around the second breast.
16 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein said rings of respective spaces are circular, elliptical, irregular, or a regular polygon with four equal sides.
17 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of said first photomultiplier and said second photomultiplier includes at least one of the following: a standard square photomultiplier, a standard round photomultiplier, a multi-element photomultiplier, a position sensitive flat panel photomultiplier, a position sensitive microchannel plate based photomultiplier, a large size avalanche photodiode with resistive readout, or a silicon photomultiplier array.
18 . The TOFPET assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of said first detector segment and said second detector segment have a first top edge and a second top edge, respectively, wherein said first top edge of said first detector segment and said second top edge of said second detector segment are configured to be at least partially under the first arm pit and the second armpit, respectively, of the subject.
19 . The TOPFET assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detector segments comprise detection surface walls that are in different planes relative to each other.
20 . A time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOFPET) assembly for detecting lesions of a breast of a subject, wherein said subject is anatomically defined with a median plane and chest wall-coronal plane, said assembly comprising:
a detector array having a first detector segment and a second detector segment positioned in the assembly and configured to at least partially surround the breast with both said first and second detector segments anterior to the subject;
wherein said first detector segment comprises a first detection surface wall, and said second detector segment comprises a second detection surface wall, and
wherein said first detection surface wall and said second detection surface wall are configured to acquire tracer emission signals from the target of the breast;
a processor that receives the acquired tracer emission signals and converts the acquired tracer emission signals into a three dimensional, tomographic image reconstruction representing the breast of the subject;
said first detection surface wall or second detection surface wall being positioned in the assembly at a tilt configured to offset the first detection surface wall or the second detection surface wall from the chest wall-coronal plane of the subject; and
wherein the tilt places a top edge of the first detector segment or a respective top edge of said second detector segment at a position in the assembly configured for placement above the chest wall-coronal plane of the subject and anterior to the subject, wherein the position is configured to image a base of the breast at the chest wall-coronal plane,
wherein the tilt comprises an imaging angle configured for extending from the top edge of the first detector segment or the respective top edge of the second detector segment toward the chest wall coronal plane, and wherein the imaging angle is in the range of about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees.
21 . The time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOFPET) assembly of claim 20 , wherein said first detector segment and said second detector segment include:
a first scintillator and a second scintillator, respectively, for placement facing the breast of the subject,
a first photomultiplier and a second photomultiplier, respectively, located opposite said respective first scintillator and said second scintillator, and
a first readout and a second readout, respectively, connected to a respective one of said first photomultiplier and said second photomultiplier and transmitting the tracer emission signals to the processor.
22 . The time of flight positron emission tomography (TOFPET) assembly of claim 21 , wherein said first detection surface wall or second detection surface wall is configured for placement anterior to a midcoronal plane of the subject.
23 . The time of flight positron emission tomography (TOFPET) assembly of claim 21 , configured for positioning with the subject in a prone position.