TOF-PET Tomograph with Sub-100 ps Polymer Scintillators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current PET tomographs do not utilize the phenomenon of positronium for imaging and lack the capability to measure positron lifetime distributions within the body, limiting their ability to provide detailed information about tissue structure and cell metabolism at the atomic level without invasive sampling.
Innovation Solution
A TOF-PET tomograph with polymer detectors achieving time resolution below 100 ps, capable of registering gamma quanta from annihilation into two, three, and four gamma quanta, allowing for the reconstruction of images of positron lifetime distributions and positronium creation probability as a function of position, using specific radiopharmaceuticals that emit positrons changing into daughter nuclei with deexcitation gamma quanta.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional PET tomographs are used, then basic metabolic imaging is achieved, but the capability to measure positron lifetime distributions and positronium creation probability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the detection capability from conventional single-gamma-quanta events to include multiple gamma quanta events (2, 3, and 4 quanta). By changing the detection parameter from single-event to multi-event coincidence detection, the system can measure positron lifetime distributions and positronium creation probability while maintaining metabolic imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it detects annihilation photons from both direct annihilation and positronium decay, measures positron lifetime distributions, determines positronium creation probability, and maintains conventional metabolic imaging. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the system versatile without sacrificing measurement precision
2Loss of information
If positronium creation and lifetime are measured, then detailed tissue structure information is obtained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses radiopharmaceuticals with daughter nuclei that deexcite with gamma quanta emission. This preliminary preparation of the radiotracer ensures that positronium creation and lifetime information are naturally encoded in the gamma quanta emission pattern, allowing extraction of tissue structure information without adding complex external measurement devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gamma quanta as an intermediary carrier to convey information about positronium lifetime and tissue structure. By detecting the timing and energy characteristics of gamma quanta from positronium decay, the system extracts detailed tissue information through the gamma quanta mediator without requiring direct measurement of positronium properties, thus avoiding excessive device complexity
3Measurement precision
If time resolution below 100 ps is achieved, then positron lifetime distribution accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs polymer scintillators with specific composition and properties optimized for fast timing response. By using composite polymer materials with appropriate scintillant doping, the system achieves below 100 ps time resolution while maintaining practical manufacturing feasibility, balancing measurement precision with manufacturing precision requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
A tomograph for imaging an interior of an examined object, the tomograph comprising: TOF-PET detection modules configured to register annihilation quanta and deexcitation quanta and a data reconstruction system (103, 203, 303) configured to reconstruct an ortho-positronium to-ps(x,y,z) lifetime image and a probability of production of positronium Ppoz(x,y,z) as a function of position in the imaged object, on the basis of a difference (At) between a time of annihilation (ta) and a time of emission of a deexcitation quantum (te), wherein the TOF-PET detection modules (101, 201, 301 ) comprise scintillators having a time resolution of less than 100 ps.