A Multi-Detector Germanium Gamma Ray Camera

The design, fabrication, and evaluation of a multidetector germanium gamma ray camera is described. The camera consists of a square array of four orthogonal strip high purity germanium detector elements which are 12 mm thick and have a 41 cm2 field of view. Position sensitive readout is achieved using the resistive charge splitting method. The measured FWHM system energy and spatial resolution at 140 keV are 5.5 keV and 2 mm, respectively. Comparative phantom and animal studies yielded radionuclide images with contrast and in-depth spatial resolution superior to that of state-of-the-art scintillation cameras.