Automatic self-correcting calibration method for arterial blood sampling detectors used in PET imaging

Routine calibration of on-line arterial blood detectors used primarily for PET blood flow studies while necessary is time consuming and if performed f requently, exposes staff to unnecessary levels of radiation. A method has b een developed and implemented to account for changes in detector sensitivit y over time and for variations in the diameters of tubes used to withdraw b lood. The method is most applicable to positron detectors but can also be u sed for gamma systems. Errors are reduced from +/- 5% to less than 1 %.