Apparatus and Implementation Method of a Set of Universal Compact Portable MR-Compatible PET Inserts to Convert Whole-Body MRI Scanners Into Organ-Specific Hybrid PET/MRI Imagers

A Positron Emission Tomography (“PET”) insert for use with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (“MRI”) scanning device, the PET insert comprising:

• a plurality of photodetector modules provided adjacent each other in an array and formed as a ring for provision around a portion of a patient's body, the photodetector module ring sized to be received in a magnetic bore of the MRI scanning device with the patient, the photodetector modules providing detection of gamma annihilation photons;
• and
• a Radio Frequency (“RF”) coil provided between the patient and the plurality of photodetector modules, wherein the RF coil is provided about at least part of an annular range of the photodetector module ring, and wherein the RF coil extends over the edges of the photodetector module ring,
• wherein each of the plurality of photodetector modules comprises a pixelated scintillator array provided for alignment adjacent the patient's body, and a shielding block comprising silicon photomultiplier pads and passive electronic circuitry only.

A Positron Emission Tomography (“PET”) insert for use with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (“MRI”) scanning device, the PET insert comprising:

• a plurality of photodetector modules provided adjacent each other in an array and formed as at least two panels for provision against a patient's body in opposing relationship for imaging a desired portion of the patient's body, the at least two photodetector module panels sized to be received in a magnetic bore of the MRI scanning device with the patient, the photodetector modules providing detection of gamma annihilation photons;
• and
• a Radio Frequency (“RF”) coil provided between the patient and the plurality of photodetector modules of each of the at least two panels, wherein the RF coil extends over the edges of the at least two photodetector module panels,
• wherein each of the plurality of photodetector modules comprises a pixelated scintillator array provided for alignment adjacent the patient's body, and a shielding block comprising silicon photomultiplier pads and passive electronic circuitry only.