The depth-of-interaction effect in block detectors degrades the image
resolution in commercial PET cameras and impedes the natural evolution
of smaller, less expensive cameras, A method for correcting the measu
red position of each detected gamma ray by measuring its depth-of-inte
raction was tested and found to recover 38% of the lost resolution at
7.5 cm radius in a tabletop, 50-cm-diameter camera. To obtain the desi
red depth sensitivity, standard commercial detectors were modified by
a simple and practical process that is suitable for mass production of
the detectors, The impact of the detector modifications on central im
age resolution and on the ability of the camera to correct for object
scatter were also measured.