PET Event Data Sorting via Parallel Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for determining pairs of compliance events in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are time-consuming and storage-intensive, particularly when dealing with large amounts of event data, as they require sequential sorting and compliance determination processes.
Innovation Solution
A device with a branch-structure-based compliance event determination system that employs two stages of sorting using first and second sorting modules, distributing event data across multiple sub-modules for parallel processing, followed by time and space compliance determinations, significantly reducing processing time and resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sequential sorting and compliance determination processes are used, then compliance events can be determined accurately, but processing time and storage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sorting process into multiple stages with multiple sorting modules operating in parallel. Each sorting module handles a subset of event data, performing sorting operations simultaneously rather than sequentially. This segmentation of the sorting task across multiple parallel processing units significantly reduces the overall processing time while maintaining the accuracy of compliance event determination.
2Measurement precision
If sequential sorting and compliance determination processes are used, then compliance events can be determined accurately, but storage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the event data into multiple subsets that are distributed across different sorting modules. Each module processes only its assigned subset, requiring storage only for that portion of the data rather than the entire dataset. This distributed segmentation approach reduces the storage burden on any single processing unit while maintaining overall system accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary sorting operations in multiple parallel stages before the final compliance determination. By pre-sorting data subsets in advance across multiple modules, the system reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored and processed in subsequent stages, thereby reducing overall storage requirements while preserving determination accuracy.
3Productivity
If single-module sorting is used, then system complexity is low, but processing speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multiple sorting modules that operate in parallel, with each module handling a specific subset of event data. This segmentation increases processing speed through parallel computation while managing system complexity through modular design, where each module is a simplified replicate of the others.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional sequential processing approach to a multi-dimensional parallel processing architecture. By organizing sorting modules in multiple stages and allowing them to operate simultaneously, the system adds a temporal parallelism dimension that dramatically increases processing speed without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for faster and more efficient determination of compliance events by distributing the sorting process across multiple sub-modules, improving processing speed and reducing data storage requirements, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of PET data analysis.
Implementation Method 1
Annihilation may occur if the positrons e+ released by the tracer during the decay process interact with negative electrons e− existing within the subject so as to generate a pair of γ photons having the same energy (approximately 511 KeV) and opposite propagation directions (about 180 degrees). Such events may be called positron annihilation events.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a pair of compliance events is provided. A set of event data collected by a PET detector may be divided into N sub-sets, and each of the N sub-sets of event data may be sorted according to an occurrence time of each event included in the event data, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. A K stage heapsort may be performed on the sorted N sub-sets of event data according to the occurrence time of each event, so as to sequentially output data of each event in the sorting order, wherein K is an integer greater than or equal to 1. A time compliance determination and a space compliance determination may be performed on the sequentially-outputted event data, and a pair of compliance events may be determined if both the time compliance determination and the space compliance determination are passed.