Real Time Implementation of a Wiener Filter Based Crystal Identification Algorithm

The recently launched LabPETtrade, a small animal Avalanche PhotoDiode (APD)-based PET scanner with quasi-individual readout and massively parallel processing, makes it possible to acquire real-time information necessary for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) image reconstruction. Since each APD is coupled to an LYSO/LGSO phoswich scintillator pair, an efficient crystal identification algorithm must be developed to sustain real-time crystal feature extraction in high PET count rate. Furthermore, a less application specific algorithm is needed to easily expand its use to a large range of crystal materials. For these reasons, a new ultra-fast crystal identification algorithm based on a Wiener filter is proposed. This optimum filter instantly recovers crystal parameters by minimizing a linear cost function. A one-dimension projection based discrimination is used to identify the scintillating crystal. The algorithm achieves a discrimination rate of for low-energy X-ray photons ( keV) and up to for high energy 511 keV photopeak photons, with a maximum throughput of 10 Mevents/sec when implemented in a field programmable gate array.