@article{3115300,
    title = "Design considerations and construction of a small animal PET prototype",
    author = "Tzanakos, G. and Nikolaou, M. and Drakoulakos, D. and Karamitros, D. and and Kontaxakis, G. and Logaras, E. and Panayiotakis, G. and Pavlopoulos, S. and and Skiadas, M. and Spyrou, G. and Thireou, T. and Vamvakas, D.",
    journal = "NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION
A-ACCELERATORS SPECTROMETERS DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT",
    year = "2006",
    volume = "569",
    number = "2, SI",
    pages = "235-239",
    publisher = "ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV",
    doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2006.08.114",
    keywords = "positron emission tomography; small animal PET; Monte Carlo simulation;
photomultiplier tube; PSPMT; FPGA",
    abstract = "We are developing a small animal PET scanner consisting of two block
detectors, each made of 216 BGO crystals of dimensions 3.75 mm x 3.75 mm
x 20 mm, cylindrically arranged and coupled to a position-sensitive
photomultiplier tube (82486 PSPMT). Our design was based on a very
detailed Monte Carlo, that simulates the function of a PET scanner from
the system level down to the individual gamma-ray detectors. We have
made laboratory measurements of the individual detector performance as
well as measurements of characteristics of the PSPMTs. The two detector
blocks which will form the basic tomographic unit have been assembled.
We are developing electronics to individually process (amplify and
digitize) anode signals, and use field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)
in the position determination and energy measurement of the gamma-rays.
At present, as an intermediate step, we are using the electronics
supplied from Hamamatsu to study various aspects of the system and
produce initial images. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V."
}