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Llosa, G., Trovato, M., Barrio, J., Etxebeste, A., Muñoz, E., Lacasta, C., et al. (2016). First Images of a Three-layer compton Telescope prototype for Treatment Monitoring in hadron Therapy. Front. Oncol., 6, 14–6pp.
Abstract: A Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy is under development at IFIC. The system consists of three layers of LaBr3 crystals coupled to silicon photomulti-plier arrays. Na-22 sources have been successfully imaged reconstructing the data with an ML-EM code. Calibration and temperature stabilization are necessary for the prototype operation at low coincidence rates. A spatial resolution of 7.8 mm FWHM has been obtained in the first imaging tests.
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Roser, J., Muñoz, E., Barrientos, L., Barrio, J., Bernabeu, J., Borja-Lloret, M., et al. (2020). Image reconstruction for a multi-layer Compton telescope: an analytical model for three interaction events. Phys. Med. Biol., 65(14), 145005–17pp.
Abstract: Compton Cameras are electronically collimated photon imagers suitable for sub-MeV to few MeV gamma-ray detection. Such features are desirable to enablein vivorange verification in hadron therapy, through the detection of secondary Prompt Gammas. A major concern with this technique is the poor image quality obtained when the incoming gamma-ray energy is unknown. Compton Cameras with more than two detector planes (multi-layer Compton Cameras) have been proposed as a solution, given that these devices incorporate more signal sequences of interactions to the conventional two interaction events. In particular, three interaction events convey more spectral information as they allow inferring directly the incident gamma-ray energy. A three-layer Compton Telescope based on continuous Lanthanum (III) Bromide crystals coupled to Silicon Photomultipliers is being developed at the IRIS group of IFIC-Valencia. In a previous work we proposed a spectral reconstruction algorithm for two interaction events based on an analytical model for the formation of the signal. To fully exploit the capabilities of our prototype, we present here an extension of the model for three interaction events. Analytical expressions of the sensitivity and the System Matrix are derived and validated against Monte Carlo simulations. Implemented in a List Mode Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization algorithm, the proposed model allows us to obtain four-dimensional (energy and position) images by using exclusively three interaction events. We are able to recover the correct spectrum and spatial distribution of gamma-ray sources when ideal data are employed. However, the uncertainties associated to experimental measurements result in a degradation when real data from complex structures are employed. Incorrect estimation of the incident gamma-ray interaction positions, and missing deposited energy associated with escaping secondaries, have been identified as the causes of such degradation by means of a detailed Monte Carlo study. As expected, our current experimental resolution and efficiency to three interaction events prevents us from correctly recovering complex structures of radioactive sources. However, given the better spectral information conveyed by three interaction events, we expect an improvement of the image quality of conventional Compton imaging when including such events. In this regard, future development includes the incorporation of the model assessed in this work to the two interaction events model in order to allow using simultaneously two and three interaction events in the image reconstruction.
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Etxebeste, A., Dauvergne, D., Fontana, M., Letang, J. M., Llosa, G., Muñoz, E., et al. (2020). CCMod: a GATE module for Compton camera imaging simulation. Phys. Med. Biol., 65(5), 055004–17pp.
Abstract: Compton cameras are gamma-ray imaging systems which have been proposed for a wide variety of applications such as medical imaging, nuclear decommissioning or homeland security. In the design and optimization of such a system Monte Carlo simulations play an essential role. In this work, we propose a generic module to perform Monte Carlo simulations and analyses of Compton Camera imaging which is included in the open-source GATE/Geant4 platform. Several digitization stages have been implemented within the module to mimic the performance of the most commonly employed detectors (e.g. monolithic blocks, pixelated scintillator crystals, strip detectors...). Time coincidence sorter and sequence coincidence reconstruction are also available in order to aim at providing modules to facilitate the comparison and reproduction of the data taken with different prototypes. All processing steps may be performed during the simulation (on-the-fly mode) or as a post-process of the output files (offline mode). The predictions of the module have been compared with experimental data in terms of energy spectra, angular resolution, efficiency and back-projection image reconstruction. Consistent results within a 3-sigma interval were obtained for the energy spectra except for low energies where small differences arise. The angular resolution measure for incident photons of 1275 keV was also in good agreement between both data sets with a value close to 13 degrees. Moreover, with the aim of demonstrating the versatility of such a tool the performance of two different Compton camera designs was evaluated and compared.
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Muñoz, E., Barrio, J., Etxebeste, A., Ortega, P. G., Lacasta, C., Oliver, J. F., et al. (2017). Performance evaluation of MACACO: a multilayer Compton camera. Phys. Med. Biol., 62(18), 7321–7341.
Abstract: Compton imaging devices have been proposed and studied for a wide range of applications. We have developed a Compton camera prototype which can be operated with two or three detector layers based on monolithic lanthanum bromide (LaBr3) crystals coupled to silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), to be used for proton range verification in hadron therapy. In this work, we present the results obtained with our prototype in laboratory tests with radioactive sources and in simulation studies. Images of a Na-22 and an Y-88 radioactive sources have been successfully reconstructed. The full width half maximum of the reconstructed images is below 4 mm for a Na-22 source at a distance of 5 cm.
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Barrio, J., Etxebeste, A., Lacasta, C., Muñoz, E., Oliver, J. F., Solaz, C., et al. (2015). Performance of VATA64HDR16 ASIC for medical physics applications based on continuous crystals and SiPMs. J. Instrum., 10, P12001–12pp.
Abstract: Detectors based on Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) coupled to continuous crystals are being tested in medical physics applications due to their potential high resolution and sensitivity. To cope with the high granularity required for a very good spatial resolution, SiPM matrices with a large amount of elements are needed. To be able to read the information coming from each individual channel, dedicated ASICs are employed. The VATA64HDR16 ASIC is a 64-channel, charge-sensitive amplifier that converts the collected charge into a proportional current or voltage signal. A complete assessment of the suitability of that ASIC for medical physics applications based on continuous crystals and SiPMs has been carried out. The input charge range is linear from 20 pC up to 55 pC. The energy resolution obtained at 511 keV is 10% FWHM with a LaBr3 crystal and 16% FWHM with a LYSO crystal. A coincidence timing resolution of 24 ns FWHM is obtained with two LYSO crystals.
Keywords: Solid state detectors; Photon detectors for UV, visible and IR photons (solid-state) (PIN diodes, APDs, Si-PMTs, G-APDs, CCDs, EBCCDs, EMCCDs etc); Front-end electronics for detector readout; Gamma detectors (scintillators, CZT, HPG, HgI etc)
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