Apparatus and method for pet detector

Abstract

A PET detector and method thereof are provided. The PET detector may include: a crystal array including a plurality of crystal elements arranged in an array and light-splitting structures set on surfaces of the plurality of crystal elements, the light-splitting structures jointly define a light output surface of the crystal array; a semiconductor sensor array, which is set in opposite to the light output surface of the crystal array and is suitable to receive photons from the light output surface, the semiconductor sensor array comprises a plurality of semiconductor sensors arranged in an array.

1 . A positron emission tomography (PET) detector, the PET detector comprising:
 a crystal array, the crystal array comprising a plurality of crystal elements arranged in a single layer; and   a semiconductor sensor array comprising a plurality of semiconductor sensors for receiving photons from the plurality of crystal elements the plurality of semiconductor sensors being configured to be coupled with the plurality of crystal elements of the crystal array, wherein the number of the plurality of crystal elements of the crystal array is more than or equal to the number of the plurality of semiconductor sensors of the semiconductor sensor array.   
     
     
         2 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein more than one of the plurality of crystal elements in the crystal array are coupled with one semiconductor sensor of the semiconductor sensor array. 
     
     
         3 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one semiconductor sensor of the semiconductor sensor array are coupled with one of the plurality of crystal elements in the crystal array. 
     
     
         4 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling of the plurality of semiconductor sensors with the plurality of crystal elements of the crystal array comprises a contact between the semiconductor sensors and the crystal elements directly or through an adhesive material. 
     
     
         5 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein a center-of-gravity of the semiconductor sensor array coincides with a center-of-gravity of the crystal array. 
     
     
         6 . The PET detector according to  claim 21 , wherein the number of light-reflective films define a light output surface facing to the semiconductor sensor array, and the semiconductor sensor array completely or partially covers the light output surface. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The PET detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a first amplifier, wherein an input terminal of the first amplifier is connected with an output terminal of a semiconductor sensor in a predetermined row of the semiconductor sensor array. 
     
     
         9 . The PET detector according to  claim 1  further comprising a second amplifier, wherein an input terminal of the second amplifier is connected with an output terminal of a semiconductor sensor in a predetermined column of the semiconductor sensor array. 
     
     
         10 . The PET detector according to  claim 21 , wherein the light-reflective films are set based on light-receiving areas of the semiconductor sensors, a relative location between the semiconductor sensors, and relative positioning between the semiconductor sensors and the crystal array. 
     
     
         11 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the number or positioning of the semiconductor sensors relates to a spatial resolution of the crystal elements in an image. 
     
     
         12 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the crystal elements have a same length along a top-to-bottom direction. 
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the crystal array further includes a number of light-reflective films, and the light-reflective films are mounted on a surface of at least one of the plurality of crystal elements. 
     
     
         22 . The PET detector according to  claim 21 , wherein the light-reflective films mounted on the surfaces of two of the plurality of crystal elements have different lengths along a top-to-bottom direction. 
     
     
         23 . The PET detector according to  claim 21 , wherein the light-reflective films mounted on the surfaces of two of the plurality of crystal elements have a same length along a top-to-bottom direction. 
     
     
         24 . The PET detector according to  claim 21 , wherein the light-reflective films mounted on the surfaces of two of the plurality of crystal elements have different areas. 
     
     
         25 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the PET detector further comprises a driver board connected to the semiconductor sensor array and configured to drive the semiconductor sensor array. 
     
     
         26 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of semiconductor sensors completely cover surfaces of the plurality of crystal elements, and the plurality of semiconductor sensors receive the photons from the surfaces of the plurality of crystal elements. 
     
     
         27 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of semiconductor sensors partially cover surfaces of the plurality of crystal elements, and the plurality of semiconductor sensors receives the photons from the surfaces of the plurality of crystal elements. 
     
     
         28 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling of the plurality of semiconductor sensors with the plurality of crystal elements of the crystal array comprises a contact between the semiconductor sensors and the crystal elements through a light guide. 
     
     
         29 . The PET detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of semiconductor sensors are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of crystal elements.