FIELD: physics.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to positron emission tomography (PET) and/or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in medical applications using pixels of different sizes or similar. When constructing detector arrays for diagnostic imaging devices such as PET or SPECT devices, a virtual detector or pixel combines scintillation crystals (10, 20, 40) with photodetectors (12) in ratios which deviate from the standard 1:1 ratio. Multiple photodetectors may be glued into a single crystal to form a virtual pixel (10, 20, 40), which can be based on software or hardware. Information on light energy and a time mark for incidence of a gamma ray on the crystal can be calculated using a virtualiser processor or a network of a trigger line and logic circuitry of a time-to-digital converter. Additionally or alternatively, multiple crystals (54) may be associated with each of the multiple photodetectors (52) Incidence of a gamma ray on a specific crystal is then determined by table lookup of adjacent photodetectors (52), which detect equal light intensity, and the crystal (54) which is common for such photodetectors (52) is identified as the point of incidence.
EFFECT: improved compatibility between detector arrays or scanners using crystals of different sizes.
32 cl, 8 dwg
