Development and Evaluation of mini-EXPLORER: A Long Axial Field-of-View PET Scanner for Nonhuman Primate Imaging

• DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.117.200519
• Publication Date: 2018-02-13T15:06:16Z
• Authors: Eric Berg; Xuezhu Zhang; Julien Bec; Martin S. Judenhofer; Brijesh Patel; Qiyu Peng; Maciej Kapusta; Matthias Schmand; Michael E. Casey; Alice F. Tarantal; Jinyi Qi; Ramsey D. Badawi; Simon R. Cherry
• Keywords: Field of view; Non human primate

We describe a long axial field-of-view (FOV) PET scanner for high-sensitivity and total-body imaging of nonhuman primates present the physical performance first phantom animal results. <b>Methods:</b> The mini-EXPLORER was built using components clinical reconfigured with detector ring diameter 43.5 cm an length 45.7 cm. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU-2 NU-4 phantoms were used to measure sensitivity count rate performance. Reconstructed spatial resolution investigated by radially stepped point source Derenzo phantom. effect wide acceptance angle comparing maximum angles 14°–46°. Lastly, initial assessment in vivo undertaken dynamic ¹⁸F-FDG primate (rhesus monkey) study. <b>Results:</b> total 5.0%, peak noise-equivalent measured monkey scatter 1,741 kcps, both obtained (46°). fraction 16.5%, less than 1% higher 14° angle. reconstructed approximately 3.0 mm at center FOV, minor loss (0.5 mm) when increased from 46°. rhesus study demonstrated benefit high mini-EXPLORER, including fast (1-s early frames), excellent image quality (30-s 5-min late-time-point (18 h after injection), all single bed position that captured major organs monkey. <b>Conclusion:</b> This capabilities FOV designed primates. Further, results this suggest can be maximize while introducing only trade-offs such as small increase slightly degraded resolution.