Sensor Chip

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

The patent describes an advanced silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) sensor chip designed for use in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The key innovation is a system of linear coding for the scintillation crystal's xy-plane, combined with depth-of-interaction (DOI) information extraction in the z-direction using a specialized summing network. This approach enables significantly improved positional accuracy and depth measurement within the scintillation crystal, reducing parallax errors that are common in PET imaging—especially when annihilation occurs close to the PET ring.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Medical PET scanners for both human and small animal imaging, where high spatial resolution and sensitivity are required.
• Simultaneous MRI/PET hybrid scanners, due to MRI compatibility of the sensor chip.
• Compact PET scanner systems suitable for integration into space-limited devices, such as those used in preclinical research or portable diagnostics.
• Use in other scintillation-based detection systems where light output distribution is depth-dependent, such as advanced gamma cameras or high-energy physics detectors.
• Applications in materials analysis or industrial imaging systems requiring precise 3D localization of scintillation events.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Greatly reduces parallax errors in PET imaging, leading to higher spatial accuracy, particularly in small or tightly-fitted PET ring configurations.
• Enables detection and precise localization of events in the depth (z-axis) of monolithic scintillation crystals, improving resolution and image quality.
• Reduces the number of readout channels required per detector, lowering system complexity, cost, and power consumption.
• Accommodates longer scintillation crystals, thus increasing detection sensitivity without sacrificing resolution.
• MRI-compatible design allows for use in hybrid PET/MRI systems, broadening its application scope in both clinical and research settings.
• Minimizes material inefficiency and cost compared to pixelated scintillator arrays by utilizing monolithic crystals and innovative signal encoding.
• Higher detail granularity is possible compared to traditional SiPM or photomultiplier-based systems, enhancing the ability to resolve fine spatial structures.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a SiPM sensor chip. PET images face the problem that parallax errors arise in the determination of the LOR if the annihilation occurs close to the PET ring. According to the invention, the problem is solved in that linear coding is performed for the xy plane of the scintillation crystal at least for a direction x or y and, in addition, information about the depth Z of the signal is obtained by means of a summing network.