Setup of SIPM based PET detector using LSO background radiation
Systems and methods for configuring a radiation detector are provided. A first event is detected at a first scintillator crystal of a first detector unit. A second coincident event is detected at a second scintillator crystal of a second detector unit adjacent to the first detector unit. Operating parameters are calculated for the first detector unit based on the coincident events.
1. A composite detector comprising:
a plurality of detector units, wherein each detector unit includes an array of scintillation elements and an array of photo-sensors;
wherein a first detector unit of the plurality of detector units is configured to acquire self-activity event data including detection of a first radiation event including a first energy level and first position information;
wherein a second detector unit of the plurality of detector units, adjacent to the first detector unit in the composite detector, is configured acquire self-activity event data including detection of a second radiation event related to the first radiation event, the second radiation event including a second energy level and second position information; and
a processing unit configured to:
generate crystal region maps for each of the plurality of detector units and the array of scintillator elements from the acquired self-activity event data;
identify a coincidence event of the first and second radiation events; and
calculate operating parameters for the first detector unit and second detector unit based on the timing differences of the coincident event and a distance between the first position and second position of the coincidence event.
2. The composite detector of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
calculate a relative time delay for each scintillation element in the first detector unit relative to an average time delay for the first detector unit.
3. The composite detector of claim 1 , wherein the second energy level is different than the first energy level.
4. The composite detector of claim 3 , wherein the first energy level and the second energy level are related to the decay of Lu-176 in a scintillator element in the first detector unit.
5. The composite detector of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to calculate operating parameters for the composite detector.