Research Project:
Sub-100 ps Time Digitizer for High Throughput PET
Investigators: P. Denes, S. Derenzo,
H. von der Lippe, E. Mandelli, W. Moses
Purpose: Demonstrate feasibility of doubling PET scanner throughput by using high-precision time-of-flight measurements to perform simultaneous calibration and detection.
- Goal 1: Develop monolithic time digitizer with 10 to 100 ps least count
- Goal 2: Integrate the time digitizer into a complete PET readout system using existing analog front-end circuits
- Goal 3: Assemble LSO detector modules
with electronics and determine spatial resolution achievable.
Approach and Methods: PET scanner patient throughput could be doubled if it were possible to perform simultaneous calibration and measurement. This would be possible with LSO-based PET scanners by using time-of-flight to determine the origin of the detected photons (i.e. the radio-pharmaceutical in the patient or the external calibration source). To make this possible, a compact time digitizer with ~100 ps sensitivity must be developed. We will develop this digitizer in 0.25m or 0.18m CMOS technology, and demonstrate the feasibility of the approach with LSO detector modules.
CONTACT:
Technology Transfer Department
E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
MS 56A-0120
Berkeley, CA 94720
(510) 486-6467 FAX: (510) 486-6457
TTD@lbl.gov
