A PET imaging system

Abstract

The application discloses a PET imaging system and relates to the technical field of medical imaging. The system comprises a plurality of pairs of matched detector units and PET acquisition units, a coincidence module, a system control module and an imaging module. The detector units are used for detecting original imaging signals of a target object. The PET acquisition units are used for processing the original imaging signals of the matched detector units to obtain single event data. The single event data comprises single event reaction position information and time information. The coincidence module is used for processing the single event data of each PET acquisition unit based on coincidence to obtain coincidence event data. The imaging module is used for reconstructing an image based on the coincidence event data to obtain a target PET image. The system control module is used for setting working parameters and working modes for each PET acquisition unit. Through distributed allocation of the calculation requirement, the computer resource requirement is reduced, so that the computer can complete the calculation in a short time, and the purpose of fast imaging is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical imaging technology, and more particularly to a PET imaging system. Background Technology

[0002] In the traditional PET scan (positron emission tomography) process, a large amount of data needs to be collected and stored in a computer, and then processed by the computer for matching, imaging, etc., which requires huge memory, computing power and storage space, and also results in very low imaging efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a PET imaging system to address the problems of excessive computer resource requirements and low imaging efficiency in the prior art.

[0004] This invention provides a PET imaging system, which includes multiple pairs of matched detector units and PET acquisition units, as well as a coincidence module, a system control module, and an imaging module; wherein,

[0005] The detector unit is used to detect and obtain the original imaging signal of the target object;

[0006] The PET acquisition unit is used to process the raw imaging signal obtained by the detector unit matched with it to obtain single event data, which includes the location information and time information of the single event reaction.

[0007] The matching module is used to perform matching processing on the single event data obtained by each PET acquisition unit to obtain matching event data;

[0008] The imaging module is used to reconstruct the image based on the coincidence event data to obtain the target PET image;

[0009] The system control module is used to set the working parameters and working modes for each PET acquisition unit.

[0010] Optionally, each of the PET acquisition units is connected in parallel, serial, or combined manner, and all the single event data are ultimately transmitted to the matching module.

[0011] Optionally, the PET acquisition unit includes a detector processing module, a location lookup table, a data processing module, a data transmission module, and an acquisition unit control module; wherein,

[0012] The detector processing module is used to collect the response signal of the gamma photon photoelectric effect in the detector unit connected to the corresponding PET acquisition unit, and obtain the raw imaging data, which includes energy information and time information.

[0013] The location lookup table is used to store the decoded location information of the corresponding connected detector units;

[0014] The data processing module has two operating modes. In mode one, it reads the position lookup table and processes the raw imaging data to obtain the spatial position of the gamma photon in the detector based on the energy information, and combines it with the time information to form the single event data. In mode two, the raw imaging data is directly used as the single event data.

[0015] The data transmission module is used to receive input data, the data source of which is other PET acquisition units or the matching module; it is also used to merge the single event data processed by the data processing module into the input data and output it, the output object being other PET acquisition units or the matching module.

[0016] The acquisition unit control module is used to acquire the working parameters and the working mode, and to configure each module in the corresponding PET acquisition unit.

[0017] Optionally, the acquisition unit control module is further configured to acquire lookup table update information and update the location lookup table.

[0018] Optionally, the PET acquisition units are connected in a ring, wherein the target PET acquisition unit is connected to the matching module, and the matching module is further used to send a preset number of empty data packets to the target PET acquisition unit; the empty data packets pass through each of the PET acquisition units based on the ring connection, and the empty data is replaced based on the single event data generated by each of the PET acquisition units, until they reach the target PET acquisition unit again and complete the replacement before returning to the matching module.

[0019] Optionally, the matching module is also used to adjust the speed at which empty data packets are sent to the target PET acquisition unit based on the amount of empty data in the returned data packets.

[0020] Optionally, the conformance module is also used to determine the bit error rate and / or packet loss rate based on the returned data packets in order to detect the system's operating status.

[0021] Optionally, the system control module is also used to receive status information fed back by the control module of each of the PET acquisition units.

[0022] Optionally, the PET acquisition unit is implemented using an integrated circuit, the coincidence module is implemented using an integrated circuit or computer software, and the imaging module is implemented using computer software.

[0023] This invention provides a PET imaging system, which includes multiple pairs of matched detector units and PET acquisition units, as well as a coincidence module, a system control module, and an imaging module. The detector units detect the raw imaging signal of the target object. The matched PET acquisition units process this raw imaging signal to obtain single-event data, including the location and time information of the single-event response. Then, the coincidence module performs coincidence processing based on the single-event data obtained by each PET acquisition unit to obtain coincidence event data. Finally, the imaging module performs image reconstruction based on the coincidence event data to obtain the corresponding target PET image. During operation, the system control module can set the operating parameters and operating modes for each PET acquisition unit. By distributing the computational requirements, the resource requirements of the computer are reduced, allowing the computer to complete calculations in a shorter time, achieving the goal of rapid imaging. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a PET imaging system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the PET acquisition unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, and not all of the structures.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a PET imaging system provided in an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is applicable to situations involving PET imaging. Figure 1 As shown, the system includes multiple pairs of matched detector units 100 and PET acquisition units 200. Figure 1(Taking two pairs as an example), it also includes a matching module 300, a system control module 500, and an imaging module 400; wherein, the detector unit 100 is used to detect and obtain the original imaging signal of the target object; the PET acquisition unit 200 is used to process the original imaging signal obtained by the detector unit 100 matched with it to obtain single event data, the single event data including the location information and time information of the single event reaction; the matching module 300 is used to perform matching processing based on the single event data obtained by each PET acquisition unit 200 to obtain matching event data; the imaging module 400 is used to perform image reconstruction based on the matching event data to obtain the target PET image; the system control module 500 is used to set the working parameters and working mode for each PET acquisition unit 200.

[0028] Specifically, the detector unit 100 can be configured according to the PET equipment required for the actual application, and different equipment can use different numbers of detector units 100. Each detector unit 100, as the smallest unit that can independently perform the acquisition function, can include several detectors, that is, each detector unit 100 can obtain the original imaging signal of the corresponding part of the target object through its included detectors.

[0029] Each PET acquisition unit 200 corresponds one-to-one with a detector unit 100. Each PET acquisition unit 200 can acquire and process the raw imaging signal from the corresponding detector unit 100 to obtain the corresponding single-event data, including but not limited to the location and time information of the single-event response. Optionally, the PET acquisition unit 200 is implemented using an integrated circuit, specifically a microcontroller, FPGA, or other specially designed integrated circuits. The processing may include format conversion, dark current removal, energy calibration, decoding calculation, and time calibration, etc. The specific processing can adopt any existing method without limitation. This allows the integrated circuit to offload the processing tasks on the computer in the traditional architecture, thereby freeing up the computer's computing power. During operation, the PET acquisition unit 200 can have its operating parameters and modes set via the system control module 500. Operating parameters may include the SiPM bias voltage, acquisition time, dark current suppression parameters, time calibration parameters, energy window size, coincidence time window, and data upload format, etc. Operating modes may include coincidence calculation and lookup table updates, etc. The specific operating parameters and modes can be forwarded from the computer to the system control module 500 for user configuration.

[0030] The matching module 300 can acquire single-event data processed by each PET acquisition unit 200, perform matching processing, and obtain matching event data in an imageable data format. Specifically, this may include crystal bar numbering information, etc., and can be stored in list mode format. Subsequently, the matching module 300 can transmit the obtained matching event data to the imaging module 400 for image reconstruction, thereby obtaining the target PET image. Optionally, the matching module 300 is implemented using integrated circuits or computer software; specifically, it can be implemented using a microcontroller, FPGA, or other specially designed integrated circuits. The imaging module 400 is implemented using computer software.

[0031] Since the preprocessing for the matching has been completed in the PET acquisition unit 200, the implementation of the matching module 300 can be streamlined, making the processing more flexible and avoiding the limitation of computers only being able to perform sequential calculations. Furthermore, by employing multiple pairs of detector units 100 and PET acquisition units 200 for processing, the processing tasks are distributed throughout the system, and each PET acquisition unit 200 can process in parallel. This means that most of the computational work is completed before the image is uploaded to the computer, reducing the computer's configuration requirements and improving processing efficiency. Specifically, the computer can only perform image reconstruction, i.e., the imaging module 400. The PET acquisition unit 200, implemented with integrated circuits, has a short processing delay; the overall imaging process's time consumption is mainly in the image reconstruction part, thus achieving rapid imaging.

[0032] Based on the above technical solutions, optionally, the PET acquisition units 200 can be connected in parallel, serial, or combined manner, and ultimately transmit all the single event data to the conformation module 300. Specifically, all PET acquisition units 200 can be connected in parallel to the conformation module 300 to transmit single event data to the conformation module 300 respectively. Alternatively, all PET acquisition units 200 can be connected serially in a preset order, and connected to the conformation module 300 through the last PET acquisition unit, so that the single event data processed by each PET acquisition unit 200 can be transmitted sequentially according to the connection order until it is transmitted to the conformation module 300 by the last PET acquisition unit. Furthermore, a combined approach can be used, i.e., some PET acquisition units 200 can be connected in series, and the series connection result can be connected in parallel to the conformation module 300, etc.

[0033] Further optional, such as Figure 2As shown, the PET acquisition unit 200 includes a detector processing module 210, a position lookup table 250, a data processing module 220, a data transmission module 230, and an acquisition unit control module 240. The detector processing module 210 is used to acquire the gamma photon photoelectric effect response signal from the detector unit connected to the corresponding PET acquisition unit, obtaining raw imaging data, which includes energy information and time information. The position lookup table 250 is used to store the decoded position information of the corresponding connected detector unit. The data processing module 220 has two operating modes. In mode one, it reads the position lookup table 250 and processes the raw imaging data. The system processes the data, obtaining the spatial position of the gamma photon in the detector based on the energy information, and combining it with the time information to form the single event data. In mode two, the raw imaging data is directly used as the single event data. The data transmission module 230 is used to receive input data, the data source of which is other PET acquisition units or the coincidence module. It is also used to merge the single event data processed by the data processing module 220 into the input data and output it to other PET acquisition units or the coincidence module. The acquisition unit control module 240 is used to obtain the working parameters and the working mode, and configure each module in the corresponding PET acquisition unit.

[0034] Specifically, by processing the raw imaging data based on the location lookup table 250, the amount of data that needs to be transmitted can be further reduced, thereby lowering the bandwidth requirements for data transmission. During normal calculation and processing, the data processing module 220 can read the location lookup table 250 to process the raw imaging data for convergence. However, since the detector may experience a certain degree of aging after prolonged operation, the information stored in the location lookup table 250 can be updated at certain time intervals or when aging is detected. If the update requires raw imaging data, it can be output directly without processing, and specifically, it can be uploaded to the computer for update calculation through the convergence module. The data processing module 220 can operate in two modes, and the mode switching can be controlled by the acquisition unit control module 240. For data transmission, it can be designed based on the above-mentioned parallel, serial, or combined connection methods. In a serial PET acquisition unit, the subsequent PET acquisition unit can receive the data output by the previous PET acquisition unit through the data transmission module 230, merge it with the single-event data it has processed, and output it, until the last PET acquisition unit finally provides the merged data to the convergence module. Alternatively, the initial step can be to send an empty data packet to certain PET acquisition units, such as the first PET acquisition unit in a series, to begin the data transmission process.

[0035] Optionally, the acquisition unit control module 240 is further configured to acquire lookup table update information and update the location lookup table. Specifically, the acquisition unit control module 240 can receive update instructions sent by the system control module and update data provided by the system control module or the matching module, and update the location lookup table based on the update instructions and update data. The update instructions can be sent from the computer to the system control module for forwarding, and the update data can be sent from the computer to the system control module or the matching module for forwarding.

[0036] Based on the above technical solution, optionally, the PET acquisition units are connected in a ring, wherein the target PET acquisition unit is connected to the matching module, and the matching module is also used to send a preset number of empty data packets to the target PET acquisition unit; the empty data packets pass through each of the PET acquisition units based on the ring connection, and the empty data is replaced based on the single event data generated by each of the PET acquisition units, until they reach the target PET acquisition unit again and complete the replacement before returning to the matching module.

[0037] Specifically, each PET acquisition unit can form one or more ring connections. Within each ring connection, a target PET acquisition unit can be connected to the matching module. The merging and transmission of single-event data from the PET acquisition units within each ring connection can be achieved through empty data packets sent by the matching module. First, the matching module sends a preset number (e.g., 100) of empty data packets to the target PET acquisition unit. The data transmission module of the target PET acquisition unit then transmits these empty data packets to the next PET acquisition unit. This next PET acquisition unit can then use its currently processed single-event data to replace the empty data in the packets and continue transmitting the resulting packets. Subsequent PET acquisition units can similarly use their currently processed single-event data to replace the empty data in the received packets and continue transmitting until the packets reach the target PET acquisition unit again, where the replacement is completed before being transmitted to the matching module for matching processing.

[0038] Optionally, the matching module can further adjust the speed at which empty data packets are sent to the target PET acquisition unit based on the amount of empty data in the returned data packets. Specifically, if there are many empty packets in the data packets returned to the matching module (e.g., more than 30), the speed at which empty data packets are sent can be reduced, thus reducing the number of data packets sent and consequently reducing the computational load. Conversely, if there are few or no empty packets in the data packets returned to the matching module (e.g., less than 5), the speed at which empty data packets are sent can be increased to improve the data processing speed.

[0039] Optionally, the matching module is further configured to determine the bit error rate and / or packet loss rate based on the returned data packet to detect the system's operating status. Specifically, based on the matching module sending an empty data packet to achieve single-event data transmission, by comparing the returned data packet with the sent empty data packet, it is easy to determine whether data loss has occurred. Therefore, the matching module can also determine the bit error rate and / or packet loss rate based on the returned data packet to detect the system's operating status.

[0040] Based on the above technical solution, optionally, the system control module is also used to receive status information fed back by the control module of each PET acquisition unit. Specifically, the acquisition unit control module can also monitor the system's operating status in real time, such as temperature, humidity, leakage, etc., so as to make real-time adjustments according to the system's operating status. For example, it can control the temperature of the whole machine's water cooling system based on temperature, prompt the user to adjust based on humidity, and control the equipment to cut off power and issue a warning when leakage is detected, etc.

[0041] The PET imaging system provided in this invention includes multiple pairs of matched detector units and PET acquisition units, as well as a coincidence module, a system control module, and an imaging module. The detector units detect the raw imaging signal of the target object. The matched PET acquisition units process this raw imaging signal to obtain single-event data, including the location and time information of the single-event response. Then, the coincidence module performs coincidence processing based on the single-event data obtained by each PET acquisition unit to obtain coincidence event data. Finally, the imaging module performs image reconstruction based on the coincidence event data to obtain the corresponding target PET image. During operation, the system control module can set the operating parameters and operating modes for each PET acquisition unit. By distributing the computational requirements, the resource requirements of the computer are reduced, allowing the computer to complete calculations in a shorter time, achieving the goal of rapid imaging.

[0042] Note that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, the scope of which is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A PET imaging system, characterized in that, The system includes multiple pairs of matched detector units and PET acquisition units, as well as a coincidence module, a system control module, and an imaging module; wherein, The detector unit is used to detect and obtain the original imaging signal of the target object; The PET acquisition unit is used to process the raw imaging signal obtained by the detector unit matched with it to obtain single event data, which includes the location information and time information of the single event reaction. The matching module is used to perform matching processing on the single event data obtained by each PET acquisition unit to obtain matching event data; The imaging module is used to reconstruct the image based on the coincidence event data to obtain the target PET image; The system control module is used to set the working parameters and working modes for each of the PET acquisition units; The PET acquisition unit includes a detector processing module, a location lookup table, a data processing module, a data transmission module, and an acquisition unit control module; wherein, The detector processing module is used to collect the response signal of the gamma photon photoelectric effect in the detector unit connected to the corresponding PET acquisition unit, and obtain the raw imaging data, which includes energy information and time information. The location lookup table is used to store the decoded location information of the corresponding connected detector units; The data processing module has two operating modes. In mode one, it reads the position lookup table and processes the raw imaging data to obtain the spatial position of the gamma photon in the detector based on the energy information, and combines it with the time information to form the single event data. In mode two, the raw imaging data is directly used as the single event data. The data transmission module is used to receive input data, the data source of which is other PET acquisition units or the matching module; it is also used to merge the single event data processed by the data processing module into the input data and output it, the output object being other PET acquisition units or the matching module. The acquisition unit control module is used to acquire the working parameters and the working mode, and to configure each module in the corresponding PET acquisition unit.

2. The PET imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the PET acquisition units is connected in parallel, serial, or combined manner, and ultimately transmits all the single event data to the matching module.

3. The PET imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acquisition unit control module is also used to acquire lookup table update information and update the location lookup table.

4. The PET imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The PET acquisition units are connected in a ring, and the target PET acquisition unit is connected to the matching module. The matching module is also used to send a preset number of empty data packets to the target PET acquisition unit. The empty data packets pass through each of the PET acquisition units based on the ring connection, and the empty data is replaced based on the single event data generated by each of the PET acquisition units, until they reach the target PET acquisition unit again and complete the replacement before returning to the matching module.

5. The PET imaging system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The matching module is also used to adjust the speed at which empty data packets are sent to the target PET acquisition unit based on the amount of empty data in the returned data packets.

6. The PET imaging system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The matching module is also used to determine the bit error rate and / or packet loss rate based on the returned data packets in order to detect the system's operating status.

7. The PET imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system control module is also used to receive status information fed back by the control module of each of the PET acquisition units.

8. The PET imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The PET acquisition unit is implemented using an integrated circuit, the coincidence module is implemented using an integrated circuit or computer software, and the imaging module is implemented using computer software.

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