Temperature compensation for a detection device in an imaging system and detection devices and imaging systems therefrom

摘要

A smart sensor for maintaining constant gain in a photosensor despite temperature is disclosed. The smart sensor receives temperature data from a temperature sensor, then compares the temperature data to a lookup table of temperatures corresponding to voltages which, when applied to a photosensor at that temperature, will produce a desired gain. The smart sensor then applies the voltage from the lookup table to the photosensor, to yield a desired gain from the photosensor. The smart sensor is particularly applicable to SiPMs used in PET/MRI imaging systems.

主权项

1. An apparatus for performing positron emission tomography (PET), comprising a plurality of PET detection units, each unit including:
a scintillator that converts incident gamma photons into light photons; a photosensor having an input bias voltage, said photosensor detecting said light photons and converting them into an electrical signal having a gain associated with said input voltage; and a smart sensor, wherein said smart sensor includes
a voltage regulator arranged to provide a bias voltage to said photosensor,a temperature sensor arranged to measure temperature associated with said photosensor,a computer-readable storage medium storing a temperature lookup table, anda processor configured to receive a temperature measurement from said temperature sensor, determine from the temperature lookup table a bias voltage associated with the temperature measurement, and to control said voltage regulator to provide to said photosensor the bias voltage determined from said lookup table; wherein each voltage regulator of said PET detection units is positioned with respect to its associated photosensor so as to minimize a temperature gradient across photosensors of said apparatus caused at least in part by eddy currents in current loops between said voltage regulators and associated photosensors.