Objective
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique widely employed in several fields such as oncology, neurology, cardiology and, more recently, for the study of new pharmaceuticals in small rodents.
The motivation to strive for an ever better performance leads one to continually seek new advances in detector system technology.
The design of a novel, high-resolution camera for a small-animal PET imaging system employing silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) has been proposed. The detector, based upon the classic Anger camera principle, consists of a continuous slab of scintillator viewed by a matrix of SiPMs. A SiPM is a silicon diode detector that shows great promise as a photodetector for scintillators and hence application in nuclear medicine im aging.
Their characteristics make them extremely interesting candidates to replace currently employed photomultiplier tubes. The use of a continuous crystal is desirable in comparison with pixelated systems currently employed, since it avoids the problems of worse energy resolution and increased cost that arise when the pixels size is reduced. A detector head of 4x4 cm2 in area is proposed, constructed from three such modules of the continuous camera described above. The stacked layers would give the system intrinsic depth of interaction (DOI) information. Tests of the SiPMs have been carried out, and simulations performed predict a spatial resolution of about 0.6 mm FWHM. The main objective of this proposal is the construction of a detector system with two (four) such camera heads in order to demonstrate the simulated results.
The work will start with tests of SiPMs and arrays of SiPMs, with the final goal of a multilayer head. Appropriate image reconstruction algorithms need also be developed in order to take full advantage of the DOI information. A software method to improve the spatial resolution close to the camera edges will also be developed.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors optical sensors
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine radiology nuclear medicine
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
PISA
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.