INSTRUMENTATION

ROY SON D. JANG, RRT

SCINTILLATION DETECTOR
 Is a sensitive element used to detect
ionizing radiation by observing the
emission of light photons induced in a
material.
 It is being used in the development of 1st
generation nuclear medicine scanner
(Rectiliniear Scanner), which was built in
1950.
 GAMMA CAMERA
 Gamma ray detector
 A scintillation detectors
that use a THALLIUM-
ACTIVATED SODIUM
IODIDE CRYSTAL to
detect and transform
radioactive emissions
into light photons.
COLLIMATOR
 Used to separate gamma rays and keep scattered
rays from entering the scintillation crystals.
 Resolution and Sensitivity are terms used to
describe the physical characteristic of collimators
 Collimators sensitivity is determined by the
fraction of photons that are transmitted through
the collimator and strike the face of the camera
crystal.
 Spatial Resolution is the capability of the system
to produce an image in which the small details
are observable
TYPES OF COLLIMATOR
PARALLEL HOLE

 introduce no image distortion and provide a

constant field of view.
 All
holes are parallel to each other. Most common
designs are :
 Low Energy All-Purpose (LEAP)
 Low Energy High-Resolution (LEHR) and
 Medium- and High Energy Collimators.
TYPES OF COLLIMATOR

PARALLEL HOLE

LEAP collimators have holes with a large

diameter. The sensitivity is relatively high
as where the resolution is moderate
(larger diameter holes allow more
scattered photons).
 The average sensitivity of a LEAP is approx.
500,000 cpm for a 1-uCi source.
 The resolution is 1.0cm at 10cm from the

patent side of the collimator.

TYPES OF COLLIMATOR

PARALLEL HOLE

LEHR collimators have higher resolution

images than the LEAP. They have more
holes that are both smaller and deeper.
 The sensitivity is approx. 185,000 cpm for 1-
uCi source
 The resolution is higher with 0.65cm at 10cm

from the patient side of the collimator.

TYPES OF COLLIMATOR

PARALLEL HOLE

Medium Energy Collimators are used for

medium energy photons of nuclides such as
Krypton81, Gallium67, Indium111. High
Energy Collimators are used for Iodine131
and F-18FDG. These collimators have
thicker septa than LEAP and LEHR
collimators (mainly used with Technetium
99m) in order to reduce septal penetration
by the higher energy photons
TYPES OF COLLIMATOR

PARALLEL HOLE

High sensitivity collimators have 4x's

higher sensitivity than high resolution
collimators, but their spatial resolution is
only about 13mm
Switching from a "high resolution" to a
"general purpose" collimator allows one to
reduce the patient dose by 50% to achieve
the same number of counts, with only a
slight decline in system resolution
TYPES OF COLLIMATOR
CONVERGING AND DIVERGING
COLLIMATOR

 In a Converging collimator the holes are not

parallel but focused toward the organ.
 The focal point is normally located in the
center of the field of view (FOV). Some
Converging collimators have the focal point off-
center near the edge of the FOV, (the so-called
Half Converging).
TYPES OF COLLIMATOR
CONVERGING AND DIVERGING
COLLIMATOR

 The organ appears larger at the face of the

crystal with a Converging collimator. When the
Converging collimator is flipped over you get a
Diverging collimator, generally used to enlarge
the FOV, for example used with portable
cameras with a small crystal.
 Diverging- minified image
 Converging- magnified image
TYPES OF COLLIMATOR
PINHOLE COLLIMATOR

 These cone-shaped collimators have a single

hole with interchangeable inserts that come
with a 3, 4 or 6 mm aperture. A pinhole
generates magnified images of a small organ
like the thyroid or a joint. Most Pinhole
collimators are designed for low energy
isotopes.
CRYSTAL & LIGHT PIPE
 Crystals in gamma camera:
THALLIUM-ACTIVATED SODIUM IODIDE CRYSTAL
 Thickness of the crystals:
 ¼’’ – ½’’ (0.6-1.3 cm)
 Thicker crystals are better for imaging
radiopharmaceuticals with higher energies
(>180 keV)
 But have decreased resolution
 Tiny crystals can produce high resolution but
cannot efficiently image photons with higher
keV
CRYSTAL & LIGHT PIPE
 Light pipe

Is used to attached the crystals to the

PMT
Is a disk of optically transparent material
that helps direct photons from the
crytals into PMT
DETECTOR ELECTRONICS
 PMT- Photomultiplier tube

Used to detect and convert light photons

emitted from the crystal into an electronic
signal.
Typical gamma camera detector head
contains 80-100 PMTs
MULTI HEAD GAMMA CAMERA SYSTEM
 Dual head gamma camera system are
the most common, allowing for
simultaneous anterior and posterior
planar imaging. And are ideal for
SPECT
 Triple head gamma camera system are
generally used for brain and heart
studies. It can provide multi-planar images
COMPUTERS
 Used to acquired and process data
from gamma cameras
 Allows the operator to enhance a
particular structure by adjusting the
contrast and brightness of the image