Positologica: A Positron ECT Device with a Continuously Rotating Detector Ring

A rotary positron emission computed tomography device is developed for human brain and animal studies. The device utilizes 64 rectangular BGO detectors arranged at unequal spacing on a circular ring. The detector ring is continuously rotated at a constant speed of 60 rpm or less. This single continuous motion of the ring with the detector array provides excellent sampling characteristics and high detector redundancy. The device has a field of view 24 cm in diameter with a slice thickness adjustable from 1 cm to 2 cm. Measured width of system response to a 2 mm diameter line source is 5.8 mm FWHM at the center and less than 9 mm FWHM within a circle 16 cm in diameter. Measured sensitivity including scattered coincidence events is about 17 kcps/pCi/ml for a 20 cm diameter water phantom and 2 cm thick slice.