Performance Measurements of a Theoretical Positron Emission Tomography Scanner Model “T2PET-NSBD” Dedicated to Plant Imaging using Monte Carlo Simulations

This work focuses on the performance measurement of a theoretical scanner with an extended Axial FOV for plant Imaging, which is based on the block detector of Naviscan PEM Flex Solo II scanners using the Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) [1,2], we named it T2PET-NSBD (Theoretical Plant PET based on NaviScan Flex Solo II Block Detector) [3,4]. The study aimed to assess the performance of the scanner according to the NEMA NU 4-2008 protocol and compare the results with other experimental data.[5] The findings of this research revealed better performance for this simulated theoretical scanner. Notably, it was observed that minimizing coincidence time windows led to improvements in the NECR (Noise Equivalent Count Rate) and True count rate performance. Additionally, employing non-paralyzable dead time instead of paralyzable dead time resulted in increased NECR. The performance of the T2PET-NSBD scanner was evaluated using various methodologies using different phantoms, including the assessment of spatial resolution, uniformity, recovery coefficients, spill-over ratios, and its application in plant imaging. These evaluations provided valuable insights into the scanner’s capabilities and limitations in different imaging scenarios. Overall, this work contributes to the understanding of the performance characteristics of the improvised scanner and highlights the importance of optimizing parameters such as coincidence time windows and dead time for enhanced imaging performance. The results obtained from this study can be valuable for further advancements in PET scanner design and optimization, ultimately benefiting the field of medical imaging.