Development of dual-layer GSO depth-of-interaction block detector using angled optical fiber

A PET system for small animals requires a small detector ring to obtain high-spatial resolution images. However, when we use a relatively large size of photodetector such as a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT), the detector ring is arranged in a hexagonal- or octagonal-shape, and the PET system has large gaps between the block detectors. The large gaps produce image distortion, and the reconstruction algorithm is difficult. To solve these problems, we proposed to arrange two scintillator blocks on one PSPMT using two angled optical fiber-based image guides. We could set two scintillator blocks angled at 22.5° on a PSPMT so that these scintillator blocks are arranged in a nearly circular (hexadecagonal) shape with eight developed block detectors. We used Gd₂SiO₅ (GSO) scintillators with Ce concentrations of 1.5 mol% (decay time: 39 ns) and 0.4 mol% (decay time: 63 ns). Sizes of these GSO cells were 1.6×2.4×7.0 mm³ and 1.6×2.4×8.0 mm³ for 1.5 mol% Ce and 0.4 mol% Ce, respectively. These two types of GSO were arranged in an 11×15 matrix and optically coupled in the depth direction to form a depth-of-interaction (DOI) detector. Two GSO blocks and two optical fiber-based image guides were optically coupled to a 2-in. PSPMT (Hamamatsu Photonics H8500: 8×8 anodes). We measured the performances of the block detector with Cs-137 gamma photons (662-keV). We could resolve almost all pixels clearly in a two-dimensional position histogram. The average peak-to-valley ratios (P/Vs) of the two-dimensional position histogram along profiles were 2.6 and 4.8 in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. The energy resolution was 28.4% full-width at half-maximum (FWHM). The pulse shape spectra showed good separation with a P/V of 5.2. The developed block detector performed well and shows promise for the development of high-sensitivity and high-spatial resolution PET systems.