Integrated PET Detector Interface Using Power Over Ethernet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional PET detector modules require separate components for power, clock, synchronization, and communication, leading to complexity and inefficiencies in timing resolution and image quality, particularly with the introduction of Time of Flight (TOF) technology which demands sub-nanosecond timing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An integrated interface combining a power module using Power over Ethernet (PoE), a clock module with recovery circuitry, and a synchronization module employing dedicated packages like IEEE1588, to achieve precise clock synchronization and data transmission over a single Ethernet cable, minimizing the multiple-peak effect and enhancing signal-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate components are used for power, clock, synchronization, and communication, then each component can be optimized independently, but the system complexity increases and timing resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power, clock, synchronization, and communication functions into a single integrated interface using Power over Ethernet (POE) technology. This merging eliminates the need for four separate connectors and cables, reduces system complexity, and improves timing resolution by ensuring precise clock synchronization through the integrated communication channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: power delivery through POE, data communication over Ethernet, clock distribution, and synchronization. This multi-functionality allows a single cable to replace four separate connections, simplifying the system while maintaining or improving performance in each function.
2Measurement precision
If Time of Flight (TOF) technology is introduced to improve imaging quality and reduce injection dose, then timing resolution must be below 1 nanosecond, but this requires precise clock alignment and synchronization that increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating clock and synchronization functions into the same Ethernet-based interface used for data communication, the system achieves sub-nanosecond timing resolution required for TOF PET without proportionally increasing complexity. The clock and sync signals travel through the same physical medium as data, ensuring consistent timing references.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/electrical separate connections with an Ethernet-based digital communication system. This substitution allows for more precise and stable clock alignment and synchronization through software-controlled timing protocols over the network, achieving TOF requirements without additional hardware complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate connectors are used for power, clock, synchronization, and communication, then each connector can be simple in design, but the overall system becomes complex and prone to timing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated Ethernet interface, sacrificing the simplicity of individual connectors for the reliability of unified timing. The single cable connection eliminates potential timing errors between separate connections and ensures consistent, reliable synchronization across all functions.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated interface of a detector module of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) may include a power module, a clock module, a synchronization module, and a communication module. In one embodiment, Gigabit Ethernet, 10G Ethernet, Fast Ethernet (100M), 10M Ethernet or custom speed Ethernet based solution can be used in the communication module. In the power module, the power is can be transmitted by standard PoE (Power over Ethernet) method, while the clock can be recovered from Ethernet in the clock module. In the synchronization module, in one embodiment, the synchronization can be done through a dedicated package and/or IEEE1588. The integrated interface can be implemented in other systems. For example, it can be used in a gamma camera system or gamma probe, especially a dynamic gamma camera or handheld gamma camera.