A method for ortho-positronium detection and imaging using a time-of-flight positron emission tomograph

A device for measuring the health of a tissue, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for detecting an event related to decay of a positron emitted from a pharmaceutical radionuclide in the tissue;
• a processor configured to:
• measure a first count rate indicative of three photon emission related to a first decay mode of the positron;
• measure a second count rate indicative of two photon emission related to a second decay mode of the positron;
• apply a scatter correction factor to each of the first count rate and the second count rate to account for scattered and attenuated annihilation photons in the tissue;
• determine a ratio of the first count rate to the second count rate;
• determine a decay lifetime for ortho-positronium (o-Ps) based on the ratio;
• and
• determine the health of the tissue based on the decay lifetime for o-Ps.

A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for detecting an event related to decay of a positron emitted from a pharmaceutical radionuclide in the tissue;
• a processor configured to:
• measure a first count rate indicative of three photon emission related to a first decay mode of the positron;
• measure a second count rate indicative of two photon emission related to a second decay mode of the positron;
• apply a scatter correction factor to each of the first count rate and the second count rate to account for scattered and attenuated annihilation photons in the tissue;
• determine a ratio of the first count rate to the second count rate;
• determine a decay lifetime for ortho-positronium (o-Ps) based on the ratio;
• and
• determine the health of the tissue based on the decay lifetime for o-Ps.