1- Improved Coincidence time resolution.
2- The absence of the parallax error.
The Picotech detector module is an innovative patented geometry of scintillating crystals with strip Silicon Photomultipliers; this configuration has been proposed by Picotech (JINST 2019, 14(01):P01016). The performance has been measured with the result of a CTR of 140 ps (corresponding to a LOR segment length 2.1 cm). Improving the CTR reduces the background in the image and also the computer time needed for image reconstruction.
The absence of the parallax error, allows the Picotech detectors to be placed close to the body being imaged and wide angle gamma rays to be accepted. ProVision will benefit from these features to develop an organ-specific PET scanner that has the potential of detecting tumours with very high precision and sensitivity.
The design of the ProVision organ-specific PET scanner is finished. The patient lies horizontally on the bed; one detector, embedded in the bed, will be positioned below the sacral region of the patient. The other external plate detector, supported by a gantry, will be vertically aligned with the lower detector; it will be lowered to be as close to the body as possible and positioned just above the prostate. The station will be further equipped with a rectoscope; this detector can be used instead of the lower external detector. This is to reduce the cost of the overall scanner, in the long run and potentially offer better image resolution. Its contribution to the scanner sensitivity and precision will be assessed by various trials.