# Low cost and high performance time-of-flight PET detectors

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIF-LAWRENC BERKELEY LAB · 2020 · $530,549

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
There is a major push to substantially improve the sensitivity of positron emission tomography (PET) with
systems comprising increased crystal volume and detectors with fast timing capabilities to better exploit 511
keV photon localization with time-of-flight PET (TOF-PET). For these efforts, there is a vital need for advances
in TOF-PET detector technologies that provide excellent coincidence time resolution (CTR) and 511 keV
photon detection efficiency at reduced cost. To address this, we propose to leverage novel readout electronics
that optimize the single photon response shape and single photon time resolution (SPTR) of silicon
photomultipliers (SiPMs) to accurately estimate 511 keV photon time of interaction with the mixed
Cherenkov/luminescence (MCL) yield from bismuth germinate (BGO). SPTR does not strongly influence CTR
for fast and bright scintillators, such as lutetium orthosilicate scintillators (LSO/LYSO). However, a moderate
Cherenkov yield mixed with a weak luminescence response creates a more unique scenario where SPTR and
single photon response shape play a major role in achievable CTR. With our electronic readout, <285 ps
FWHM CTR is achievable for long and narrow BGO crystal elements suitable for clinical PET detectors. This is
equivalent to CTR achieved by state-of-the-art (SoA) commercial PET detectors. The novel signal multiplexing
strategies we propose to develop will allow us to maintain SoA CTR performance in large area detector
modules at the same or reduced channel density than conventional TOF-PET detector designs. BGO is an
extremely economical detector material, with a cost that is 4-to-5 fold lower than the standard LSO/LYSO
scintillators used in all modern TOF-PET systems. We will develop TOF-PET detector modules with associated
front-end signal processing and digital readout electronics. The technology will be ready for “plug-and-play”
integration into reduced cost clinical TOF-PET systems and those that aim to explore ultra-sensitive PET
systems with increased detection volume at reduced cost. The proposed PET detector technologies can have
a significant impact on quantitative PET imaging. The image signal-to-noise-ratio enabled by the enormous
boost in counts from high sensitivity PET systems can be employed to substantially reduce tracer dose and
shorten scan time/increase patient throughput, or to better visualize and quantify smaller lesions/features in the
presence of significant background, which are important features that can make PET more practical and lower
cost, as well as help to expand its roles in patient management.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9974310
- **Project number:** 1R01EB028286-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIF-LAWRENC BERKELEY LAB
- **Principal Investigator:** Joshua William Cates
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $530,549
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9974310

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9974310, Low cost and high performance time-of-flight PET detectors (1R01EB028286-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9974310. Licensed CC0.

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