YAP-PET: first results of a small animal Positron Emission Tomograph based on YAP:Ce finger crystals

We have built a small animal Positron Emission Tomograph (YAP-PET) based on four matrices of 400 YAP:Ce finger crystals (2x2~30 mm3 each) coupled to Position Sensitive PhotoMultiplier Hamamatsu R2486-06. The system consists of four detectors on a rotating gantry with a variable diameter from 10 and 25 cm. The read-out and data acquisition system are handled by NIM-CAMAC standard electronics. The tomograph has a total Field Of View (FOV) of 4 x 4 ~ 4cm 3 that is appropriate for mice and rat studies. A spatial resolution I 2 mm over 3 x 3 ~ 3c m3 FOV has been measured, with a peak sensitivity for a point source of about 614 cpslyci for a gantry diameter of 15 cm and an energy threshold of 50 keV.