Fundamental study for SPECT imaging with 123I produced by (p, 5n) reaction

The effects of higher-energy photon from 123I (p, 5n) on the SPECT image quality were evaluated. The quality was evaluated by image contrast and %rms. Image contrast had similar tendency to planar and SPECT FWHM value. %rms was affected by septal penetration. Using 140 keV high resolution collimator (140 keV HR), image contrast was superior to that for 300 keV medium energy collimator (300 keV ME), but septal penetration rate (SPR) was 18% and %rms was 10.5. When quantitation is required, the collimator with less SPR than 18% is recommended for SPECT imaging. Using 300 keV ME, SPR was 0.05%, but spatial resolution and image contrast were inferior to that for 140 keV HR.     

Experimental study on the collimator for increasing the resolution of N-isopropyl-p-(123I)iodoamphetamine (IMP) SPECT imaging of the brain

This study was carried out to design a new collimator for the present 123I-IMP SPECT imaging of the brain, which is hindered by the contamination of 124I and 126I. In this study we intended to increase spacial resolution along the transaxial direction and, at the same time, to compensate for the decrease of sensitivity by sacrificing the resolution along the axial direction to some extent. For this purpose, we developed 4 kinds of slat type units; ultrahigh resolution (UHR), high resolution (HR), high sensitivity (HS), and ultrahigh sensitivity (UHS). In practice, either UHR or HR is set to the detector together with either HS or UHS. After testing 4 kinds of combinations, we found that the combination of UHR-HS gave us far better images than those obtained with the conventional medium energy parallel hole collimator and was best suited for 123I-IMP SPECT imaging of the brain at present. We are now thinking of fusing these two units together into one collimator.     

Evaluation of the system performance and clinical images of the single photon emission computed tomography for head using ring arranged detector

To evaluate the system performance, several preoperational fundamental tests of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were carried out. Spatial resolutions (FWHM) measured with the point-spread functions of a 99mTc line source were 12.5 mm with a high resolution (HR) collimator and 17.2 mm with a high sensitivity (HS) collimator respectively. Slice thicknesses (FWHM) obtained from the profile curves of slice images were 17.5 mm (HR) and 29.0 mm (HS) at the center of rotation. System sensitivities were 5.4 kcps/slice (HR) and 27.8 kcps/slice (HS). Uniformities calculated from the SPECT images of a pool phantom were 4.7% (HR) and 2.7% (HS) at the condition of 3,000 kcounts to be acquired. SPECT images of the HEADTOME SET-031 were considered very useful to diagnose the cerebrovascular disease.     

Comparison of SPECT images with four kinds of 99mTc collimators

Performance of SPECT imaging systems which use a rotating gamma camera, are affected by characteristics of the detector-collimator assembly, the data acquisition method, and the filter used in image reconstruction. The purpose of this study is to examine image qualities of SPECT with different types of low energy collimators. The SPECT imaging system in this study is a rotating gamma camera ZLC-7500 (Siemens) and a data processing unit Scintipac-700 (Shimadzu). The four types of collimators compared are UHR (ultra high resolution), HR (high resolution), AP (general all purpose), and HS (high sensitivity), with 0.27, 0.66, 1.00, and 2.06 relative sensitivity, respectively. In the case of the same collimator, the spatial resolutions measured in the slice plane showed a slight difference in the FWHM values (mean values of UHR, HR, AP, and HS were 11.3 mm, 13.6 mm, 15.8 mm, and 20.4 mm, respectively.) between the center and the circumference of the field of view, in the radial direction, but a large difference in the tangential direction, with lower FWHM values (values of UHR, HR, AP, and HS were 8.4 mm, 8.7 mm, 9.3 mm, and 10.8 mm at 12 cm from the center, respectively.). In comparison of SPECT images with the four types of collimators, except for the HS collimator, image qualities of UHR, HR, and AP collimators showed only a slight difference. From the pont of view of sensitivity and spatial resolution of the collimator, it is expected that the AP collimator would be suitable for SPeCT imaging with 99mTc.     

Evaluation of gamma camera collimator for regional cerebral blood flow measurements using a 133Xe inhalation method

In the measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) using inhalation of 133Xe gas, the activity present is generally limited in lower levels than those of usual brain scintigraphy. Measurements with low count-rate are usually resulted in diminishing the accuracies of results obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to make measurements using a high sensitive collimator for getting as much count-rate as possible when a gamma camera is used. The relationships among sensitivity and structures of multi-parallel collimator were mathematically analyzed. The results of analysis suggested that sensitivity usually increased by using a collimator with holes of reduced height and diameter. A prototype multi-parallel collimator with holes of low height and small diameter was made in our laboratory for testing sensitivity and resolution. The collimator possessing 1141 holes of 6 mm phi in hole diameter, 1.5 cm is hole height and septal thickness of 1 mm lead showed 24 times more sensitive than those of a general all purpose collimator supplied by the manufacturer. However, resolution measured in FWHM was of 9 to 14 mm at the collimator face and of 29 to 38 mm at 5 cm from the face. The results indicated that this collimator was useful enough in rCBF measurements with 133Xe inhalation using a gamma camera. The mathematical analysis however, suggested that optimum collimator for rCBF measurements was approximate 4.5 mm phi in hole diameter and 1.0 cm in hole height.     

SPECT images using a multislice fan beam collimator

Several methods to improve the image resolution of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) occur to us. It is one method to use multislice fan beam collimators which have the parallel collimation along the cephalic-caudul axis of a patient and the conversing collimation within planes parpendicular to that axis. It is impossible to obtain corrective image when we used the algorithm which is commonly used for reconstruction of SPECT images. We proposed a reconstruction algorithm for multislice fan beam collimator in this paper. An interpolation method developed for fan beam type X-ray CT was modified to reconstruct images from SPECT with multislice fan beam collimator. This algorithm was confirmed by means of computer simulation studies. Beside improving the system resolution by effectively reducing the intrinsic resolution of the cameras, this collimator also increases the system sensitivity by utilizing a large fraction of the crystal area. We have thought that to use multislice fan beam collimator is beneficial for SPECT images.     

Performance of gamma camera collimators used for single photon emission computed tomography imaging with 123I-isopropyl iodoamphetamine

123I Produced by 124Te(p, 2n)123I reaction is contaminated with 124I (less than 5%) and 126I (less than 0.3%). High energy photons from these mixed radioiodine compromise seriously image quality due to scattered photons and to septal penetration in the collimator. Four collimators of LEAP (for low energy all purpose), LEHR (for low energy high resolution), MESI (for medium energy made by Siemens) and MENU (for medium energy made by nuclear technology) mounted on a rotating gamma camera (Siemens, ZLC-7500), were examined in order to select a suitable collimator for 123I SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging. Sensitivities were measured with a plane source (5 X 5 X 0.5 cm) at the collimator face and distances from 2 to 30 cm in air. And, spatial resolutions in FWHM (full width at half maximum) and FWTM (full width at tenth maximum) were determined from line spread functions with planar and SPECT imaging. From the comparison of collimator performances with 99mTc and 123I, both collimators for low energy were not useful for 123I imaging. In other two collimators for medium energy, however, apparently the effect of septal penetration by the higher energy photons were also recognized, MENU with high geometrical resolution was more suitable for 123I SPECT imaging compared with MESI. And, it is important to perform the SPECT imaging with radius as short as possible.     

Gamma-ray spectra of 201Tl-radiopharmaceuticals with a scintillation camera--crosstalk of contaminating nuclides of 200Tl and/or 202Tl onto 201Tl-photopeaks

In cardiac imaging with 201Tl, the collimator for low energy high resolution is generally used, and also the energy window, which is set on the spectral display of a pulse height analyzer of a scintillation camera, is chosen 70 +/- 12.5 keV. The purpose of this study is to discuss those conditions in 201Tl imaging with the scintillation camera. Two types of collimators for HR (high resolution) and ME (medium energy) were used in this experiment, and we measured the pulse height spectra of 201TlCl radiopharmaceuticals in air and in a cuboid phantom, connecting a multi-channel pulse height analyzer to the scintillation camera. As a result of measuring of the pulse height spectra, two different energies of gamma rays which are not supposed to emit from 201Tl nuclide were observed, and we also identified the presence of a small amount of 202Tl (with 439 keV) and/or 200Tl (with 368 keV) from their half-life measurements. Thus, the use of the HR-collimator with 201Tl imaging is not suitable, because the shielding effects of its septa is poor to 439 keV gamma-rays, and the scattered radiation produced by the Compton interaction contributes to the principal photopeak on the pulse height spectrum. Here, we recommend the use ME-collimator instead of the HR-one, and of the window width of 76 +/- 25 keV for increasing the count rate.     

Testing performance of the improved pinhole collimator and its application to small animals

Testing performance of the improved pinhole collimator of 1.5 mm aperture attached to the gamma camera was carried out with three kinds of radionuclides, 99mTc, 67Ga and 131I, using a hand-made phantom. The results obtained in this experiment were compared to those obtained with a human pinhole collimator of 4 mm aperture. Those were nearly understood by taking account of the effective aperture of a pinhole collimator for each effective photon energy. And all scintigrams obtained from rats with various scintigraphy showed high resolution images.     

Thin layer spectroelectrochemical (RVC-OTTLE) studies of pertechnetate reduction in acidic media

A Peltier-cooled silicon drift detector was successfully applied for conversion electron spectrometry. The energy resolution of the detector for 45 keV electrons was 0.50 keV (FWHM). The approximate thickness of the dead layer was determined to be 140 ± 20 nm Si equivalent. The relative efficiency of the detector was verified to be approximately constant in the energy range of 17–75 keV. This is concordant with the high transparency of the thin dead layer and the sufficient thickness of the detector (450 μm) to stop the electrons. The detector is suitable for use in plutonium analysis of chemically prepared samples. Moreover, it was demonstrated that conversion electron spectrometry is better than alpha spectrometry in preserving its capability to determine the ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu isotopic ratio as a function of sample thickness. The investigated measurement technique can be considered a promising new tool in safeguards, complementary to existing methods.     

Self-calibration method for cerium-doped lanthanum bromide scintillator detector in the 0.1–2.0 MeV energy range

In recent years, the cerium-doped lanthanum bromide, LaBr₃ (Ce = 5 %) detector is increasingly playing an important role in radiation measurements because of its higher energy resolution (~3 % at 662 keV), faster luminescence decay time (~35 ns) and higher detection efficiency compared to 7.65 cm × 7.65 cm NaI(Tl) detector. Intrinsic spectra between 1,800 and 3,000 keV derived from internal radioactivity within LaBr₃(Ce) scintillators have been investigated in some literatures, and these results are confirmed by the experiments in this work. In this paper, a new method for LaBr₃(Ce) detector energy calibration from 100 to 2,000 keV is proposed using the intrinsic spectra (self-calibration) instead of the standard gamma sources. Proof-of-concept experiment results show that self-calibration can guarantee energy accuracy of better than 0.815 % and can be applied outside the laboratory. The stability and applicability of this method are also investigated systematically.     

Scintigraphy in the small animals using a human gamma camera--evaluation of bone scintigraphy in the rat mandible and maxilla

In order to obtain clear scintigrams of small animals, some improvements were brought on a pinhole collimator. Then, using a human gamma camera with this collimator improved, bone scintigraphy was attempted in the rat mandible and maxilla, experimentally to examine the desirable conditions of scintigraphy. The most desirable bone scan images were obtained under the conditions that the pinhole was 1.5 mm in diameter, the distance between the collimator and the object was 0 cm, and the exposure was 400.     

Design, testing and optimization of a neutron radiography system based on a Deuterium–Deuterium (D–D) neutron generator

Simulations show that significant improvement in imaging performance can be achieved through collimator design for thermal and fast neutron radiography with a laboratory neutron generator. The radiography facility used in the measurements and simulations employs a fully high-voltage-shielded, axial D–D neutron generator with a radio frequency driven ion source. The maximum yield of such generators is about 10¹⁰ fast neutrons per seconds (E = 2.45 MeV). Both fast and thermal neutron images were acquired with the generator and a Charge Coupled Devices camera. To shorten the imaging time and decrease the noise from gamma radiation, various collimator designs were proposed and simulated using Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNPX 2.7.0). Design considerations included the choice of material, thickness, position and aperture for the collimator. The simulation results and optimal configurations are presented.     

The modified experimental X-ray powder diffraction station on the SR beamline no. 2 of VEPP-3 storage ring

Modernization of the experimental station mounted on the beamline No. 2 of VEPP-3 synchrotron radiation electron storage ring at Siberian Synchrotron and Terahertz Radiation Center and intended for X-ray diffraction studies of the structure and phase composition of functional materials with high angular resolution and the possibility of using the effect of resonance scattering has been done. In operating mode the diffractometer of the beamline is equipped with a perfect flat analyzer crystal Ge(111), located in front of the detector. XRD patterns can be obtained in the range of photon energies from 7 keV to 18 keV (or wavelength range ~0.18÷0.07 nm). The angular range of the X-ray registration is limited to 2θ = 140°. The work was performed using a complex VEPP-3/VEPP-4.     

Characterization of a new external neutron beam facility at the Ohio State University

A thermal neutron beam facility has been designed and implemented at the Ohio State University Research Reactor. A project is underway to construct a large vacuum chamber such that the facility could have neutron depth profiling and neutron radiography capabilities as intended. The neutron beam is extracted from the reactor through a neutron collimator emplaced in Beam Port #2. The neutron spectrum entering the neutron collimator was unfolded from foil activation analysis results and also simulated with a full reactor core model in the MCNP Monte Carlo code. The neutron collimator uses polycrystalline bismuth as a gamma ray filter and single-crystal sapphire as a fast neutron filter. The beam is defined by multiple 3.0 cm diameter apertures made of borated aluminum. Characterization of the beam was performed using foil activation to find the flux and a low-budget neutron imaging apparatus to see the beam profile. The modulation transfer function was calculated to offer insight into the resolution of the imaging system and the collimation of the beam. The neutron collimator delivers the filtered thermal neutron beam with a ~4 cm diameter and a thermal equivalent flux of (1.27 ± 0.03) × 10⁷ n/(cm²s) at 450 kW power at the end of the collimator.     

BSA optimization and dosimetric assessment for an electron linac based BNCT of deep‐seated brain tumors

A study was conducted to investigate a photoneutron spectrum based on a 25 MeV electron linac for treatment of deep-seated brain tumors in the context of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Based on a series of Mont Carlo N-Particle simulations, tungsten and uranium with optimized geometry were selected as the most appropriate converters for (e,γ) and (γ,n) reactions, respectively. The final optimized photoneutron source yield was 5.78 × 10¹³ n/s/mA, which is a high value for these kinds of sources. A beam shaping assembly (BSA) for the proposed neutron source containing optimal moderators, filter, reflector, and collimator was simulated. Results showed that using this BSA enables us to meet International atomic energy agency recommended figures of merit at the BSA beam port. Also, the calculated in-phantom figures of merit and dose evaluation results via a simulated head phantom confirmed that the designed neutron source and its related BSA configuration can potentially treat deep-seated brain tumors in BNCT framework. In the present study, some in-phantom figures of merit such as advantage depth, advantage depth dose rate, advantage ratio, and treatment time are 7.6 cm, 0.7 Gy/min, 4.2, and 17.8 min, respectively.     

Depth profiling Cr in surface layers by 52Cr(p,γ)53Mn nuclear resonance reaction analysis

A method for depth profiling chromium in the surface and near surface regions of materials using the resonance at 1,005 keV in ⁵²Cr(p,γ)⁵³Mn nuclear reaction is presented. The detection sensitivity, depth resolution and probing depth of the resonance in Si are determined to be about 3 at.%, 25 nm and 2.5 µm respectively from the excitation function of the reaction constructed in 0.90–1.2 MeV proton energy region by measuring 378 keV prompt γ-rays from ⁵³Mn nuclei. The reaction is interference free. These features make the approach attractive for profiling chromium in mid as well as high Z matrices.     

EDXRF imaging of Pb in glazed ceramics using a micropattern gas detector

A new system for energy-resolved X-ray fluorescence imaging using a microhole and strip plate (MHSP), a new type of micropattern gas detector (MPGD), is proposed. It works as a single photon counting detector with position and energy detection capability. The interaction of X-rays with the gas medium produces electrons via the photoelectric effect, and the number of electrons is proportional to the absorbed X-ray energy. These electrons are further multiplied in the MHSP. Position detection is achieved using the charge division method. The detector has an active area of 28?×?28 mm² and shows good position resolution, about σ?=?125 μm, an intrinsic energy resolution of about 14% FWHM for 5.9 keV X-rays, and a counting rate capability of up to 0.5 MHz. The system has shown good properties for energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) applications, since it allows efficient energy and position detection of fluorescence X-rays from multielemental samples. In this work, the system was used to study lead depth distributions in eighteenth-century Portuguese faiences from the Santa Clara-a-Velha monastery. The fluorescence images were obtained by irradiating the samples, with a pinhole placed between the sample and the detector to focus the radiation into the detector. The results are presented here, including the elemental map distributions for different samples.     

Shielding ability of lead loaded radiation resistant gloves

The shielding ability of radiation resistant gloves was examined. The gloves are made of lead loaded (as PbO2) polyvinyl chloride resin and are about 0.4 mm in thickness (70 mg/cm2). Eleven test pieces were sampled from each of three gloves (total 33) and the transmission rates for radiations (X-ray or gamma-ray) through the test pieces were measured with radiation sources, 99mTc, 57Co, 133Ba, 133Xe and 241Am. The differences of the transmission rates for radiations by the positions of the gloves were smaller than 15%, and the differences by three gloves were smaller than 5% in the case of 60 keV and 141 keV radiations. The average transmission rates for radiations in the 33 test pieces were about 40% for 30 keV radiation, about 90% for 80 keV and 140 keV radiations. The shielding characteristic of the gloves is equivalent to about 0.026 mm thick lead plate.     

Microcalorimeter arrays for ultra-high energy resolution X- and gamma-ray detection

Microcalorimeter detectors provide superior energy resolution for the detection of X-rays and gamma-rays. The technology utilizes a cryogenic transition-edge sensor (TES) coupled to a tin bulk absorber. We are working on fabrication methods for the production of arrays with many sensors. In this paper, we present data collected with an array of microcalorimeters using as many as 26 sensor elements simultaneously. Advances in sensor design have extended the useful dynamic range to photon energies up to ～200 keV, while providing resolution performance in the 80–90 eV FWHM range, significantly better than planar high-purity germanium. These sensor arrays have applications in the measurement of nuclear materials. We present data collected from ¹⁵³Gd, a highly-enriched uranium sample, and a plutonium isotopic standard source. We also demonstrate clean separation of the ²³⁵U 185.715 keV peak from the ubiquitous ²²⁶Ra 186.211 keV background peak interference.