title: MRC-SPECT: A sub-500 μm resolution MR-compatible SPECT system for simultaneous dual-modality study of small animals.
abstract: In this paper, we will report the development of an ultrahigh resolution MR-compatible SPECT system that can be operated inside a pre-existing clinical MR scanner for simultaneous dual-modality imaging of small animals. This system is constructed with 40 small-pixel CdTe detector modules assembled in a fully stationary ring SPECT geometry. We have experimentally demonstrated that this system is capable of providing an imaging resolution of <500 μm when operating inside MR scanners. We will report the design, construction of the MRI-compatible SPECT system, including the detector technology, collimator, system development and so on. The first imaging results obtained with this newly constructed SPECT system will also be reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaochun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA.
authors.forename: Zengming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Chin-Tu
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA.
authors.forename: Ling-Jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Meng
keywords: CdTe/CZT; Hybrid pixel-waveform readout; MR compatible SPECT; System development