Novel cost-effective and high-performance modular detectors for emission tomography systems

A major limitation of the currently available small animal PET and SPECT imaging is their relatively low sensitivity to the incident gamma rays. While providing high spatial resolution utilizing finely pitched scintillator arrays has been explored, the cost of array fabrication has been an issue. Moreover, high sensitivity has been traded off for high spatial resolution since fabrication of scintillator arrays with small pixel cross-section and large thickness can be challenging and cost-prohibitive. The currently used mechanical pixelation of scintillators results in relatively large inter-pixel gaps and hence low packing fraction and sensitivity. We control the light spread in scintillators using a novel technique called Laser-Induced Optical Barriers (LIOB). In this work we are reporting on manipulation of scintillation light spread and hence improving pixel separation in LYSO:Ce arrays fabricated by LIOB technique as well as pixelation of CsI:Tl to 0.625×0.625×5 mm³ and 1×1×10 mm³ pixels with 100% process yield.