Study of low cost continuous Gd2O2S:Pr powder scintillator screens in photon counting mode using a dedicated small nuclear imaging camera

The aim of this study is to propose and evaluate a low cost alternative solution as a detector module in nuclear imaging. For this purpose, we have assessed the performance of Gd 2 O 2 S:Pr powder scintillator in the form of thick screens easily produced in our laboratory. All measurements were carr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stratos, D, George, P, Maria, G, George, L, Ioannis, K
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Coatings
Costs
Detectors
gamma camera
Gd 2 O 2 S:Pr
Laboratories
Nuclear imaging
Nuclear measurements
Performance evaluation
Phosphors
powder phosphors
Powders
PSPMT
Spatial resolution
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Summary:The aim of this study is to propose and evaluate a low cost alternative solution as a detector module in nuclear imaging. For this purpose, we have assessed the performance of Gd 2 O 2 S:Pr powder scintillator in the form of thick screens easily produced in our laboratory. All measurements were carried out in photon counting mode using m99 Tc. To our knowledge, Gd 2 O 2 S:Pr powder phosphor screens have never been used in nuclear imaging. Evaluation was performed using a small field of view gamma camera. A general purpose collimator and a position sensitive photomultiplier tube R9232 were used. Different samples with coating thickness varying from 100 mg/cm 2 to 1.2 g/cm 2 were tested. The procedures for optimizing the thickness of the screen and PSPMT configuration together with quick and optimal amplification of 4 signals (Xa, Xb, Yc, Yd) are reported. The more efficient coating thickness of 600 mg/cm 2 which corresponds to ~2mm thickness in height was found to be experimentally optimum. Sensitivity and spatial resolution were measured and compared to two standard 3 × 3 × 5 mm 3 and 2 × 2 x3 mm 3 discrete CsI:Tl scintillator arrays under the same conditions. The measurements showed significant improvements in detector spatial resolution (up a factor of 1.2 compared with 2×2 CsI) but loss of efficiency (4 times compared with 2×2 CsI) when a 2 mm thick Gd 2 O 2 S:Pr powder scintillator was used. Moreover, system performance with the proposed screen in terms of energy resolution and uniformity response is reported.
ISSN:1558-2809
2832-4242
DOI:10.1109/IST.2010.5548494