SCINTALLATOR ARRAY TEST METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM

摘要

An apparatus and method for testing scintillator arrays, e.g., crystal arrays for PET imaging. The apparatus includes, a two-sided tray arranged to hold scintillator arrays in either side and slide the arrays into a light-tight box having a radiation source beneath the arrays and photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) above the arrays. When arranged in the testing position with the arrays interposed between the radiation source and the PMTs, ambient light from outside the box is prevented from leaking into the box and high-voltage power is supplied to the PMTs. Otherwise, to prevent PMT damage, the high-voltage is off. The radiation source is an arrangement of sealed low-activity pieces of radioactive elements, thus minimizing requirements for radiation shielding and minimizing safety risks. The method calculates a flood map from scintillation data/counts and performs analysis according to predefined criteria, e.g., the peak-to-valley ratio, to flag arrays exhibiting inferior quality.

主权项

1. A testing apparatus, comprising:
a light-tight housing configured with a through hole extending from a first side of the light-tight housing to a second side of the light-tight housing; a tray configured to hold test objects; a radiation source configured to irradiate a volume corresponding to the through hole of the light-tight housing; and an optical detector array arranged inside the light-tight housing and configured to receive light from the test objects held on the tray in the through hole, wherein the tray is arranged in the through hole of the light-tight housing and the tray extends outside the through hole past a plane of the first side of the light-tight housing, and extends past a plane of the second side of the light-tight housing, the tray is slidably connected to the light-tight housing, and the tray and the light-tight housing are configured to prevent light from leaking into the light-tight housing, when the tray is in a first testing position.