Dual-ended readout positron emission tomography detectors, methods for determining photon information, and positron emission computed tomography imaging devices

A method for determining photon information, implemented on a dual-ended readout positron emission tomography (PET) detector, the dual-ended readout PET detector comprising a crystal array, a first processing unit disposed at a first end of the crystal array, and a second processing unit disposed at a second end of the crystal array, the method comprising:

• determining, based on first photon information of first scintillation photons that are emitted from the first end and collected by the first processing unit, two-dimensional (2D) position information and first energy information of the first scintillation photons;
• determining, based on second photon information of second scintillation photons that are emitted from the second end and collected by the second processing unit, second energy information of the second photons;
• and
• determining response depth information based on the first energy information and the second energy information.

A dual-ended readout positron emission tomography (PET) detector, comprising a crystal array, a first processing unit, and a second processing unit, wherein:

• the crystal array includes a plurality of crystal units, the crystal array being configured to detect a gamma photon and produce scintillation photons;
• the first processing unit is disposed at a first end of the crystal array;
• the second processing unit is disposed at a second end of the crystal array, and the first end and the second end are disposed opposite to each other;
• the first processing unit includes a plurality of first photoelectric components, and the second processing unit includes at least one second photoelectric component;
• a count of the one or more second photoelectric components is smaller than a count of the plurality of first photoelectric components;
• a side surface between the first end and the second end of each of the plurality of crystal units is provided with a light-splitting structure configured to guide the scintillation photons to the first processing unit and the second processing unit;
• the first processing unit is configured to determine first photon information of first scintillation photons that are emitted from the first end and collected by the first processing unit, and the first photon information are used for determining two-dimensional (2D) position information of the scintillation photons;
• and
• the second processing unit is configured to determine second photon information of second scintillation photons that are emitted from the second end and collected by the second processing unit, and the second photon information are used for determining response depth information of the scintillation photons.