Basic Performance Characteristics
Detector Limitations
Design and Performance Characteristics of
Parallel-Hole Collimators
Performance Characteristics of Converging,
Diverging, and Pinhole Collimators
Measurements of Gamma Camera
Performance.
Intrinsic spatial resolution refers to the limit of spatial
resolution achievable by the detector and the electronics
Intrinsic spatial resolution is limited primarily by two
factors: multiple scattering and statistical fluctuation in the
distribution of light photons (the later is the main factor).
Intrinsic resolution depends on detector crystal thickness
and Ȗ ray energy. A thinner crystal is used for Anger
camera to achieve better spatial resolution.
Larger number of PM tubes and improvement of light
collection efficiency result in better resolution.
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The crystal thickness of NaI(Tl) in Anger
camera is smaller (6-12mm) than that of a
well counter (2-5cm).
Anger camera is designed for optimal
detection of Ȗ ray energies of 100-200keV.
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Pulse pile-up is the problem at high count
rate and it results in count loss and image
distortion.
Count loss depends on the whole energy
spectrum but the apparent dead-time
depends on the window fraction. Scatter
causes narrower of the window fraction
therefore longer dead-time.
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Pulse pile-up causes
image distortion. Two
scattered event may be
added to form a photo-
peak which produces a
location between the
two scattered events.
!
The general effect
of the pulse pile-
up is to cause a
loss of image
contrast and
details
!
Pulse pile-up rejection circuit can be used to
improve the pulse pile-up but it will reduce the
maximum achievable count rate
Deadtime can be improved by shortening the
effective charge integration time for the output
signal from the PM tube but it will reduce the
amount of light collected by the PM tube,
therefore, degrade the intrinsic resolution.
!
Count rate
performance
should be one
of the
important
factors for
Anger cameras
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Non-linearity refers to that a straight line object appear as
curved line image
Non-linearity occurs when the X and Y positional signals
do not change linearly with the displacement distance.
³Pincushion´ distortion is an inward ³bowing´ image and
³Barrel´ distortion is an outward ³bowing´ image
A PM tube may have high light collection efficiency in the
centre which may result in a ³pincushion´ in the centre and
³barrel´ between PM tubes. This kind of images could
results in a ³wavy´ line pattern.
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Non-Uniformity refers to the intensity variation from a
uniform flood source
The causes could be the non-uniform detection efficiency
(small differences in pulse height spectrum) and non-
linearity of PM tubes (more server) or instrument
malfunctions.
³Edge packing´ refers to the bright ring around the edge of
the image. It is caused by the internal light reflection of the
detector crystal. ³Edge packing´ is usually masked and the
useful field of view is smaller than the actual detector size
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Cosmetic approach:
± Adjust individual PM tube gains (compensate for the detection
efficiency difference)
± ³Correction factors´ matrix. Test image is normalised and the
correction factor for each matrix element is used to add or subtract
from the image.
Advanced approach:
± A set of microprocessors are used to store correction matrices for
regional differences in pulse height spectra and for position
distortion.
± Images are corrected on event by event basis (on fly).
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Resolution always is best with the source as close as
possible to the collimator
For point source in air, the efficiency increases as the
source to collimator distance increase with converging
collimator (maximum at focus point) and decreases for
diverging and pinhole collimators. No change for flood
source as long as the source cover the entire detector.
Diverging, converging and pinhole collimators may be
useful for the change of field of view but the image
distortion caused by the magnification with depth may be a
problem.
Intrinsic Resolution
System Resolution
Spatial Linearity
Uniformity
Counting Rate Performance
Energy Resolution
System Sensitivity