PET scanner with photodetectors and wavelength shifting fibers
AssigneePhotoDetection Systems, Inc.
InventorWilliam A. Worstell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for estimating a location of a most-likely photon source on a scintillator block includes obtaining a measured photodetector signal indicative of a distribution of photons received by a plurality of photodetectors from a photon source on a scintillator block; and obtaining a measured fiber signal indicative of a distribution of photons received by a plurality of wavelength-shifting fibers extending across the scintillator block from a photon source on a scintillator block.
Claims27
An apparatus for estimating the location of an area on a scintillator block, the apparatus comprising:
- photodetectors disposed to receive photons from a scintillator block of a PET scanner and configured to provide a measured photodetector signal indicative of a distribution of photons detected by the photodetectors;
- wavelength-shifting fibers disposed to receive photons from the scintillator block and configured to provide a measured fiber signal indicative of a distribution of photons received by the fibers;
- and
- a processor configured to estimate, on the basis of both the measured photodetector signal and the measured fiber signal, a location of a discrete area on a surface of the scintillator block from which the photons emerge.
A method of estimating a location of a discrete area on the surface of scintillator block, the method comprising:
- obtaining a measured photodetector signal indicative of a distribution of photons received by a plurality of photodetectors;
- and
- obtaining a measured fiber signal indicative of a distribution of photons received by a plurality of wavelength-shifting fibers extending across the scintillator block;
- on the basis of both the measured fiber signal and the measured photodetector signal, estimating a location of a discrete area on the surface of the scintillator block from which the photons emerge.
A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon software for estimating a location of a discrete area on the surface of a scintillator block, the software comprising instructions for:
- obtaining a measured photodetector signal indicative of a distribution of photons received by a plurality of photodetectors;
- obtaining a measured fiber signal indicative of a distribution of photons received by a plurality of wavelength-shifting fibers extending across the scintillator block;
- and
- estimating, on the basis of both the measured photodetector signal and the measured fiber signal, a location of a discrete area on the surface of the scintillation block from which the photons emerged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.