Jun 24 2008
Zecotek Photonics Inc. today announced that the Swiss-based Paul Scherrer Institute has successfully tested Zecotek's proprietary Micro-pixel Avalanche Photo Diodes (MAPD's) in trials for its next-generation Positron Emission Tomography (PET) medical imaging program.
Dr. Dieter Renker, Senior Researcher, Particles and Material of the Paul Scherrer Institute noted that preliminary test results of the Zecotek MAPD’s, both alone and in conjunction with fast scintillation material, demonstrated the exceptional performance and stability characteristics of the new MAPD photo-detectors, which support their potential to deliver improvements in sensitivity, spatial resolution and image quality application in high-performance PET devices. Results of MAPD tests were reported at the 5th International Conference on New Developments in Photodetection, Palais des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains, France, June 15-20, 2008.
“The Paul Scherrer Institute is highly respected for its work in advancing medical imaging and we are delighted with the first results from their test program using our MAPD photo detectors,” said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek. “The Paul Scherrer Institute has, as previously announced, also successfully tested our LFS scintillation crystal in the PET development program. Our MAPD’s performed as required for the developers of the high resolution imaging scanners and detectors.”
The Paul Scherrer Institute PET program is focused on advancing improvements in sensitivity, spatial resolution and image quality in PET scanners, based on the understanding that advances in PET are driven largely by progress in instrumentation, in particular the performance of scintillation materials, photo-detectors and read-out electronics. Higher resolution PET scanners will provide more detailed diagnoses, result in improved patient outcomes and broaden PET applications when combined with MRI for brain function analysis and diagnosis.
Zecotek’s MAPD solid-state photo detectors have been designed in several configurations to offer significant performance and cost advantages over the current photo-multiplier vacuum tubes (PMT) and other existing solid state photo-detectors. The MAPD-1 is designed to replace APD’s in great many applications, the MAPD-2 addresses specific, high demand requirements in high-energy physics such as particle accelerators where PMT’s are vulnerable to the magnetic environment created by the superconducting magnets used in the collimation of particle tracks. The MAPD-3 meets required specifications for advanced, high resolution PET scanners and gamma camera applications, particularly when matched with Zecotek’s patented LFS scintillation materials. Photo detectors, together with the scintillation material, typically constitute 50 to 65% of the manufacturing cost of a PET scanner.
As previously announced, the selection of Zecotek’s MAPD photo detectors followed an extensive and competitive program of testing and evaluation. The MAPDs have been supplied through Zecotek Imaging Systems Pte Ltd, Singapore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zecotek Photonics Inc, and manufactured under contract by the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS).
Zecotek is completing its manufacturing and packaging requirements and is on schedule to commence the volume sale of the three types