title: Characterization of "γ-Eye": a Low-Cost Benchtop Mouse-Sized Gamma Camera for Dynamic and Static Imaging Studies.
abstract: Several preclinical imaging systems are commercially available, but their purchase and maintenance costs make them unaffordable for the majority of small- and medium-sized groups. Taking into account the needs of average users, we developed "γ-eye", a mouse-sized, benchtop γ-camera suitable for in vivo scintigraphic imaging.
  
  
  
  The γ-eye is based on two position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes, coupled to a CsI(Na) pixelated scintillator and a low-energy lead collimator with parallel hexagonal holes.
  
  
  
  The spatial resolution of the system is 2 mm at 0 mm. The energy resolution is 26 % at 140 keV and the maximum recorded sensitivity 210 cps/MBq. The system was evaluated in a proof-of-concept animal study, using three different clinical Tc-99m-labeled radiopharmaceuticals. Phantom and animal studies demonstrate its ability to provide semiquantitative results even for short scans.
  
  
  
  Systems' performance, dimensions, and cost make γ-eye a unique solution for efficient whole-body mouse nuclear imaging.
authors.affiliation: BET Solutions, R & D, Athens, Greece. mgeorgiou@betsolutions.gr.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.affiliation: BET Solutions, R & D, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fysikopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mikropoulos
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Scientific Research NCSR "Demokritos", Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fragogeorgi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece.|National Centre for Scientific Research NCSR "Demokritos", Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loudos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D016513:Mice, SCID; D013667:Technetium
chemical_list: D013667:Technetium
keywords: Performance evaluation; Position sensitive photomultiplier tube; Scintigraphic small animal imaging; Single photon emission