INITIAL RESULTS FROM THE SHERBROOKE AVALANCHE PHOTODIODE POSITRON TOMOGRAPH

The design features and engineering constraints of a PET system based on avalanche photodiode (APD) detectors have been described in a previ ous report. In this paper, we present the initial results obtained wit h the Sherbrooke APD-PET scanner, a very high spatial resolution devic e designed for dynamic imaging of small and medium-sized laboratory an imals such as rats, cats, rabbits and small monkeys. Its physical perf ormance has been evaluated in terms of resolution, sensitivity, count rate, random and scatter fractions, contrast and relative activity rec overy as a function of object size. The capabilities of the scanner fo r biomedical research applications have been demonstrated using phanto m and animal studies.