Experimental characterization and test-beam results of MACACO III Compton camera

The IRIS group at IFIC-Valencia is developing a Compton camera prototype with the aim of applying it in hadron therapy treatment monitoring. Recently, a third version of the prototype MACACO (Medical Applications CompAct COmpton camera) has been built. The system is composed of three Lanthanum (III) bromide scintillator crystals coupled to silicon photomultipliers. To improve its performance for the final application, several detectors are tested, two different silicon photomultipliers (25 and 50 um) have been chosen as possible candidates. The 25 up photodetector provided better performance in therms of dynamic range, energy resolution (5.2/ FWHM at 511 keV) and stability with temperature variations. MACACO III has also been tested in the CNA cyclotron (Seville) with 18 MeV proton beam to produce 4.439 MeV gamma rays. Data have been acquired with a graphite target in five different positions at 2.5 nA nominal beam intensity. Images with 4.439 MeV photons have been reconstructed, demonstrating the system capability to reconstruct images at energies relevant for hadron therapy. Moreover, the system has been able to distinguish 1mm displacements in the target position

Simulation of electron transport and secondary emission in a photomultiplier tube and experimental validation

[EN] The electron amplification and transport within a photomultiplier tube (PMT) has been investigated by developing an in-house Monte Carlo simulation code. The secondary electron emission in the dynodes is implemented via an effective electron model and the Modified Vaughan¿s model, whereas the transport is computed with the Boris leapfrog algorithm. The PMT gain, rise time and transit time have been studied as a function of supply voltage and external magnetostatic field. A good agreement with experimental measurements using a Hamamatsu R13408-100 PMT was obtained. The simulations have been conducted following different treatments of the underlying geometry: three-dimensional, two-dimensional and intermediate (2.5D). The validity of these approaches is compared. The developed framework will help in understanding the behavior of PMTs under highly intense and irregular illumination or varying external magnetic fields, as in the case of prompt gamma-ray measurements during pencil-beam proton therapy; and aid in optimizing the design of voltage dividers with behavioral circuit models.This work was supported by Conselleria de Educación, Investigación, Cultura y Deporte (Generalitat Valenciana) under grant numbers CDEIGENT/2019/011 and CDEIGENT/2021/012. P. Martín-Luna is supported by the Ministerio de Universidades (Gobierno de España), Spain under Grant Number FPU20/04958. We thank Hamamatsu (V. Sánchez, D. Castrillo) for technical support and guidance; R. Carrasco (IFIC) and P. Wohlfahrt (Siemens Healthineers) for the CT scanning; D. Calvo and D. Real (KM3net-IFIC) for their LED test platform, the electronics and maintenance services at IFIC for excellent support; and K. Albiol, J. V. Casaña-Copado, A. Gallas Torreira, E. Lemos Cid, G. Pausch, A. Pazos Álvarez, E. Pérez Trigo, S. Rit, A. Ros, J. Roser, J. Stein, J. L. Taín and R. Viegas for useful discussions.Martín-Luna, P.; Esperante, D.; Fernández Prieto, A.; Fuster-Martínez, N.; García Rivas, I.; Gimeno, B.; Ginestar Peiro, D.... (2024). Simulation of electron transport and secondary emission in a photomultiplier tube and experimental validation. Sensors and Actuators A Physical. 365:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2023.11485911036

Hybrid PET/Compton-camera imaging: an imager for the next generation

Compton cameras can offer advantages over gamma cameras for some applications, since they are well suited for multitracer imaging and for imaging high-energy radiotracers, such as those employed in radionuclide therapy. While in conventional clinical settings state-of-the-art Compton cameras cannot compete with well-established methods such as PET and SPECT, there are specific scenarios in which they can constitute an advantageous alternative. The combination of PET and Compton imaging can benefit from the improved resolution and sensitivity of current PET technology and, at the same time, overcome PET limitations in the use of multiple radiotracers. Such a system can provide simultaneous assessment of different radiotracers under identical conditions and reduce errors associated with physical factors that can change between acquisitions. Advances are being made both in instrumentation developments combining PET and Compton cameras for multimodal or three-gamma imaging systems, and in image reconstruction, addressing the challenges imposed by the combination of the two modalities or the new techniques. This review article summarizes the advances made in Compton cameras for medical imaging and their combination with PET

Device and method for detecting photons and charged particles and use of same

[EN] Described is a solution for determining events related to photons and charged particles useful in therapies that employ methodologies related to hadron therapy. In one aspect, the invention relates to a device having a sandwich-type structure of photon-detecting panels (1) and charged-particle-detecting panels (2), which can be suitably associated with respective sensors. Also included is a method for detecting photons and charged particles, which uses the device. Lastly, a specific use of the subject matter of the invention in hadron therapy is described[ES] Se detalla una solución para la determinación de eventos relacionados con fotones y partículas cargadas de utilidad en terapias que hacen uso de metodologías relacionadas con la hadrónica. En un aspecto de la invención se tiene un dispositivo que presenta una estructura tipo sándwich de paneles detectores de fotones (1) y paneles detectores de partículas cargadas (2) que pueden estar convenientemente asociados a respectivos sensores. Asimismo, se incluye un método para detección de fotones y partículas cargadas que hace uso del citado dispositivo. Finalmente, se detalla un uso concreto del objeto de la invención en terapia hadrónica[FR] L'invention concerne une solution pour déterminer des événements associés à des photons et des particules chargées utiles dans des thérapies qui utilisent des méthodologies associées à l'hadronique. Dans un aspect, l'invention concerne un dispositif qui présente une structure de type sandwich de panneaux détecteurs de photons (1) et de panneaux détecteurs de particules chargées (2) qui peuvent être associés de manière appropriée à des capteurs respectifs. L'invention concerne également un procédé pour la détection de photons et de particules chargées qui fait appel audit dispositif. Enfin, l'invention détaille l'utilisation concrète de l'objet de l'invention en thérapie hadroniquePeer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), Universitat de ValènciaA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Dispositivo y método de detección de fotones y partículas cargadas y uso de los mismos

Dispositivo y método de detección de fotones y partículas cargadas y uso de los mismos. Se detalla una solución para la determinación de eventos relacionados con fotones y partículas cargadas de utilidad en terapias que hacen uso de metodologías relacionadas con la hadrónica. En un aspecto de la invención se tiene un dispositivo que presenta una estructura tipo sándwich de paneles detectores de fotones (1) y paneles detectores de partículas cargadas (2) que pueden estar convenientemente asociados a respectivos sensores. Asimismo, se incluye un método para detección de fotones y partículas cargadas que hace uso del citado dispositivo. Finalmente, se detalla un uso concreto del objeto de la invención en terapia hadrónicaPeer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), Universitat de ValènciaA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

检测光子和带电粒子的装置和方法及其用途

本发明涉及用于确定与光子和带电粒子有关的事件的解决方案，该解决方案在使用与强子治疗相关的方法的治疗中有用。在本发明的一个方面，它涉及具有光子检测面板(1)和带电粒子检测面板(2)的夹层型结构的装置，其可以适当地与相应的传感器相关联。还包括使用上述装置检测光子和带电粒子的方法。最后，描述了本发明的目的在强子治疗中的具体用途。NoConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat de Valènci

Dispositif et procédé de détection de photons et de particules chargées et utilisation de ceux-ci

The invention relates to a solution for determining events related to photons and charged particles useful in therapies that use methodologies related to hadron therapy. In one aspect of the invention, it relates to a device having a sandwich-type structure of photon-detecting panels (1) and charged particle-detecting panels (2), which can be suitably associated with respective sensors. Also included is a method for detecting photons and charged particles that uses the aforementioned device. Lastly, a specific use of the object of the invention in hadron therapy is described.NoConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat de ValènciaA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Device and method for detecting photons and charged particles and use of same

The invention relates to a solution for determining events related to photons and charged particles useful in therapies that use methodologies related to hadron therapy. In one aspect of the invention, it relates to a device having a sandwich-type structure of photon-detecting panels (1) and charged particle-detecting panels (2), which can be suitably associated with respective sensors. Also included is a method for detecting photons and charged particles that uses the aforementioned device. Lastly, a specific use of the object of the invention in hadron therapy is described.NoConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat de ValènciaA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Device and method for detecting photons and charged particles and using them

[ES] Se detalla una solución para la determinación de eventos relacionados con fotones y partículas cargadas de utilidad en terapias que hacen uso de metodologías relacionadas con la hadrónica. En un aspecto de la invención se tiene un dispositivo que presenta una estructura tipo sándwich de paneles detectores de fotones (1) y paneles detectores de partículas cargadas (2) que pueden estar convenientemente asociados a respectivos sensores. Asimismo, se incluye un método para detección de fotones y partículas cargadas que hace uso del citado dispositivo. Finalmente, se detalla un uso concreto del objeto de la invención en terapia hadrónica.[EN] A solution is detailed for the determination of events related to photons and charged particles useful in therapies that make use of methodologies related to hadronics. In one aspect of the invention there is a device that has a sandwich-type structure of photon detector panels (1) and charged particle detector panels (2) that can be conveniently associated with respective sensors. Also included is a method for detecting photons and charged particles that makes use of the aforementioned device. Finally, a specific use of the object of the invention in hadronic therapy is detailed.NoConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat de ValènciaB2 Patente con examen previ

CCMod: A GATE module for Compton camera imaging simulation

Compton cameras are gamma-ray imaging systems which have been proposed for a wide variety of applications such as medical imaging, nuclear decommissioning or homeland security. In the design and optimization of such a system Monte Carlo simulations play an essential role. In this work, we propose a generic module to perform Monte Carlo simulations and analyses of Compton Camera imaging which is included in the open-source GATE/Geant4 platform. Several digitization stages have been implemented within the module to mimic the performance of the most commonly employed detectors (e.g. monolithic blocks, pixelated scintillator crystals, strip detectors...). Time coincidence sorter and sequence coincidence reconstruction are also available in order to aim at providing modules to facilitate the comparison and reproduction of the data taken with different prototypes. All processing steps may be performed during the simulation (on-the-fly mode) or as a post-process of the output files (offline mode). The predictions of the module have been compared with experimental data in terms of energy spectra, angular resolution, efficiency and back-projection image reconstruction. Consistent results within a 3-sigma interval were obtained for the energy spectra except for low energies where small differences arise. The angular resolution measure for incident photons of 1275 keV was also in good agreement between both data sets with a value close to 13°. Moreover, with the aim of demonstrating the versatility of such a tool the performance of two different Compton camera designs was evaluated and compared.Peer reviewe