Prototype Parallel Readout System for Position Sensitive PMT Based Gamma Ray Imaging Systems

Author

Habte, Frezghi ; Olcott, Peter D. ; Levin, Craig S. ; Foudray, Angela M.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Radiol., Stanford Univ., CA

Volume

54

Issue

1

fYear

2007

Firstpage

60

Lastpage

65

Abstract

A parallel prototype readout system that allows digitization and acquisition of 64 or more anode signals from a position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT) was developed for a miniature hand-held gamma camera. This acquisition system was developed to study the benefits of a digital readout system compared to charge multiplexed techniques such as resistive division. The system was developed using CAMAC instrumentation standard and controlled via a Macintosh Computer. Four 16-channel charge-to-digital conversion (QDC) CAMAC modules were used to digitize individual anode signals from the PSPMT. To maximize the data transfer rate, a list processor module was also added in the system. For acquisition and processing of the digitized data, we used Kmax software from SPARROW. The system provided 99.9% spatial linearity when inter-anode gain correction was applied to list-mode data. Much improved scintillation crystal separation in a flood histogram with 16:1 peak to valley ratio, and higher edge sensitivity was obtained compared to resistive charge multiplexing readout

Keywords

CAMAC; biomedical equipment; biomedical imaging; cameras; data acquisition; digital readout; gamma-ray detection; high energy physics instrumentation computing; nuclear electronics; parallel processing; photomultipliers; position sensitive particle detectors; solid scintillation detectors; CAMAC instrumentation standard; Kmax software; Macintosh computer; SPARROW; anode signals; charge multiplexed techniques; charge-to-digital conversion; data acquisition system; data transfer rate; digitization; flood histogram; higher edge sensitivity; interanode gain correction; list processor module; lutetium oxyorthosilicate; miniature hand-held gamma camera; position sensitive PMT based gamma ray imaging systems; position sensitive photomultiplier tube; prototype parallel digital readout system; resistive charge multiplexing readout; resistive division; scintillation crystal separation; Anodes; CAMAC; Cameras; Control systems; Instruments; Linearity; Nuclear imaging; Photomultipliers; Prototypes; Standards development; CAMAC; data acquisition; digital-readout; gamma camera; lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO); position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2006.889157

Filename

4089163