Evaluation of a motion measurement system for PET imaging studies

Abstract-- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) enables functional imaging of deep brain structures, but the bulk and weight of current systems preclude their use during many natural human activities, such as locomotion. The proposed long-term solution is to construct a robotic system that can support an imaging system surrounding the subject's head, and then move the system to accommodate natural motion. Our preliminary results indicate that the measurement system may achieve accuracy within 0.5 mm, especially for small motions, with improved accuracy possible Positron Emission Tomography (PET) relies on the injection of a radioactive tracer, which is then preferentially absorbed by specific tissues (based on the choice of tracer). The absorbed tracer emits positrons that react with nearby electrons, creating a pair of annihilation (gamma) photons that travel in opposite directions and are detected by the PET imaging ring. Higher sensitivity can be achieved by placing the PET detectors as close as possible to the subject.