Monte Carlo modelling of the performance of a rotating slit-collimator for improved planar gamma-camera imaging

Phys Med Biol. 1992 May;37(5):1095-108. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/37/5/006.

Abstract

Planar imaging with a gamma camera is currently limited by the performance of the collimator. Spatial resolution and sensitivity trade off against each other; it is not possible with conventional parallel-hole collimation to have high geometric sensitivity and at the same time excellent spatial resolution unless field-of-view is sacrificed by using fan- or cone-beam collimators. We propose a rotating slit-collimator which collects one-dimensional projections from which the planar image may be reconstructed by the theory of computed tomography. The performance of such a collimator is modelled by Monte Carlo methods and images are reconstructed by a convolution and backprojection technique. The performance is compared with that of a conventional parallel-hole collimator and it is shown that higher spatial resolution with increased sensitivity is possible with the slit-collimator. For a point source a spatial resolution of some 6 mm at a distance of 100 mm from the collimator with a x7 sensitivity compared with a parallel-hole collimator was achieved. Applications to bone scintigraphy are modelled and an improved performance in hot-spot imaging is demonstrated. The expected performance in cold-spot imaging is analytically investigated. The slit-collimator is not expected to improve cold-spot imaging. Practical design considerations are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Gamma Cameras*
  • Humans
  • Models, Structural
  • Monte Carlo Method*
  • Radionuclide Imaging / instrumentation*