High-performance modular TOF-PET imager

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a leading functional imaging modality, yet its global accessibility remains limited due to high cost and infrastructure demands. Recent advances in time-of-flight (TOF) technology enable coincidence time resolutions (CTR) below 100 ps, opening the possibility for radically simplified scanner geometries. We present the concept and development status of a modular, limited-angle TOF-PET imager based on ultrafast flat-panel detectors. The approach leverages sub-100 ps timing performance, improved silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and next-generation ASIC readout to compensate for sparseangular coverage while maintaining image quality. Monte Carlo simulations and reconstruction studies demonstrate that a two-panel system can achieve image quality comparable to state-of-the-art clinical scanners with significantly reduced material and cost.

High-performance modular TOF-PET imager

Abstract

Journal

Organization