Arc-PET: Cost-effective whole body PET scanner with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution

Background

Modern whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) systems are constrained by their fixed, often cylindrical, geometries and large ring diameters. This design is largely influenced by technological limitations, specifically the lack of cost-effective detector modules capable of measuring depth-of-interaction. As a result, current scanners employ a one-size-fits-all approach, primarily designed to accommodate the largest patients. This design choice inherently compromises spatial resolution and sensitivity for smaller individuals, including pediatric patients, and prevents the system from adapting to diverse body types or focusing on specific organs to achieve optimal imaging performance across a broad spectrum of clinical needs.

Technology

Researchers at Stony Brook University developed a whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) system designed with Prism-PET detector modules, providing 5 degrees of geometric freedom. The novel design enables non-cylindrical, small-bore scanner geometries, a departure from current fixed, cylindrical systems. Additionally, the system leverages the cost-effective Depth of Interaction (DOI) capability inherent in the Prism-PET modules, which facilitates its geometric adaptability to different body types and specific organs.