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Cerbone LA, Cimmino L, Sarno A, Biesuz NV, Bolzonella R, Mettivier G, Fiorini M, Russo P. Monte Carlo and experimental evaluation of a Timepix4 compact gamma camera for coded aperture nuclear medicine imaging with depth resolution. Phys Med 2023; 113:102663. [PMID: 37672844 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2023.102663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We designed a prototype compact gamma camera (MediPROBE4) for nuclear medicine tasks, including radio-guided surgery and sentinel lymph node imaging with a 99mTc radiotracer. We performed Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for image performance assessment, and first spectroscopic imaging tests with a 300 μm thick silicon detector. METHODS The hand-held camera (1 kg weight) is based on a Timepix4 readout circuit for photon-counting, energy-sensitive, hybrid pixel detectors (24.6 × 28.2 mm2 sensitive area, 55 μm pixel pitch), developed by the Medipix4 Collaboration. The camera design adopts a CdTe detector (1 or 2 mm thick) bump-bonded to a Timepix4 readout chip and a coded aperture collimator with 0.25 mm diameter round holes made of 3D printed 1-mm thick tungsten. Image reconstruction is performed via autocorrelation deconvolution. RESULTS Geant4 MC simulations showed that, for a 99mTc source in air, at 50 mm source-collimator distance, the estimated collimator sensitivity (4 × 10-4) is 292 times larger than that of a single hole in the mask; the system sensitivity is 0.22 cps/kBq (2 mm CdTe); the lateral spatial resolution is 1.7 mm FWHM. The estimated axial longitudinal resolution is 8.2 mm FWHM at 40 mm distance. First experimental tests with a 300 μm thick Silicon pixel detector bump-bonded to a Timepix4 chip and a high-resolution coded aperture collimator showed time-over-threshold and time-of-arrival capabilities with 241Am and 133Ba gamma-ray sources. CONCLUSIONS MC simulations and validation lab tests showed the expected performance of the MediPROBE4 compact gamma camera for gamma-ray 3D imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Antonia Cerbone
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale, Largo San Marcellino 10, 80138, Napoli, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy; Università di Napoli Federico II, 80138, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Luigi Cimmino
- Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università di Napoli Federico II, I-80126 Napoli, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonio Sarno
- Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università di Napoli Federico II, I-80126 Napoli, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicolò Vladi Biesuz
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara, I-44122 Ferrara, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Ferrara, I-44122 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bolzonella
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara, I-44122 Ferrara, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Ferrara, I-44122 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Mettivier
- Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università di Napoli Federico II, I-80126 Napoli, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Fiorini
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara, I-44122 Ferrara, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Ferrara, I-44122 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paolo Russo
- Dipartimento di Fisica "Ettore Pancini", Università di Napoli Federico II, I-80126 Napoli, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Napoli, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
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Farnworth AL, Bugby SL. Intraoperative Gamma Cameras: A Review of Development in the Last Decade and Future Outlook. J Imaging 2023; 9:jimaging9050102. [PMID: 37233321 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging9050102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Portable gamma cameras suitable for intraoperative imaging are in active development and testing. These cameras utilise a range of collimation, detection, and readout architectures, each of which can have significant and interacting impacts on the performance of the system as a whole. In this review, we provide an analysis of intraoperative gamma camera development over the past decade. The designs and performance of 17 imaging systems are compared in depth. We discuss where recent technological developments have had the greatest impact, identify emerging technological and scientific requirements, and predict future research directions. This is a comprehensive review of the current and emerging state-of-the-art as more devices enter clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Farnworth
- Department of Physics, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Sarah L Bugby
- Department of Physics, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
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