In this webinar presented by Scintica Instrumentation, we will present the Brightonix SimPET simultaneous PET/MRI insert system, an advanced silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) based PET insert for truly simultaneous PET/MR imaging with a compact design, low power consumption, and excellent PET detector stability. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a nuclear imaging technique which has long been regarded as the gold standard for visualization of metabolic processes. PET uses small amounts of radionuclides to track metabolic and functional processes in the body with unparalleled sensitivity. Simultaneous Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides a unique non-invasive opportunity to image both the functional and structural characteristics of biological systems. PET imaging shows high-sensitivity to dynamic metabolic and functional processes while MRI produces exceptional soft-tissue contrast. Combining both modalities allows clinicians and researchers to collect a wealth of biological information with regard to both structure and metabolic processes in-vivo. The SimPET insert is the world’s first complete and most cost-effective permanent magnet simultaneous PET/MRI solution for preclinical research. Recently, the system performance was assessed following the NEMA NU 4-2008 standard (Performance Measurements of Small Animal Positron Emission Tomographs). Briefly the PET insert was shown to have excellent detector stability, sub mm spatial resolution, and excellent energy resolution (10%). Further the SimPET insert was shown to integrate seamlessly with the Aspect M7 Preclinical MRI showing no mutual interference between the two systems during simultaneous operation. Combined this system provides high image quality, exceptional PET performance, simultaneous or standalone operation, MRI-based attenuation correction, and low maintenance. Specifically, in this webinar we will present: An overview of PET imaging An introduction to Brightonix and the SimPET system An in depth look at the technical capabilities of the SimPET system An introduction to simultaneous PET/MRI with the Aspect M7 System Potential applications of PET and simultaneous PET/MRI

1. SimPET
State-of-the-Art Pre-Clinical PET/CT Systems
Patrick McCunn, PhD
Postdoctoral Research
Fellow in Neurosciences
and Mental Health
Hospital for Sick Children

2. Audience Poll

3. Outline
• Positron Emission Tomography
• Brightonix and the SimPET System
• SimPET Technical Specifications
• SimPET Performance Capabilities
• SimPET and Aspect M7 MRI
• SimPET in Action

4. Positron Emission Tomography

5. From: Minimization of parallax error in positron emission tomography using depth of interaction capable detectors: methods and apparatus
I Mohammadi et al 2019 Biomed. Phys. Eng. Express 5 062001 doi:10.1088/2057-1976/ab4a1b
POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET)
Positron Emission Tomography
• Inject radiotracer
• Detect coincidence
photons (107– 108 events)
• Define lines along which
annihilation lies
• Reconstruct radiotracer
distribution
• Analyze

6. From: Small-animal positron emission tomography as a tool for neuropharmacology. Sophie Lancelot, Luc Zimmer.
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences ; Volume 31, Issue 9, Pages 411-417 (September 2010); DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2010.06.002
Isotope Half-Life
15O (oxygen) 2 min
13N (nitrogen) 10 min
11C (carbon) 20 min
18F (fluorine) 110 min
POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET)
Positron Emission Tomography

7. MAIN APPLICATIONS OF PRE-CLINICAL PET
• Oncology
• Neuroimaging
• Cardiology
• Bone
• Biodistribution
• Simultaneous
PET/MRI
Positron Emission Tomography

8. Brightonix and the SimPET System

9. BRIGHTONIX
• Brightonix Imaging is a global
leader established with the goal to
provide society with innovative
biomedical imaging devices and
solutions
• Located in Seoul, Republic of
Korea
• Under partnership with Aspect
Imaging, Inc. to offer the SimPET
preclinical PET/MRI insert with M7
compact MRI
Brightonix and the SimPET

10. SimPET
Brightonix and the SimPET
• An advanced silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) based PET insert for simultaneous
PET/MRI

11. • PET Imaging provides metabolic and
functional imaging capabilities
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
provides exceptional soft-tissue contrast
• Combining both modalities allows
researchers to collect both structure and
metabolic processes in-vivo
Why a PET Insert?
Brightonix and the SimPET

12. • The world’s first complete and most cost-
effective permanent magnet simultaneous
PET/MRI solution for preclinical research
• High image quality
• Simultaneous or standalone operation
• MRI based attenuation correction
• Low maintenance (no cryogens)
• Small footprint, low power consumption,
and limited siting requirements
Aspect M7 Compact Preclinical MRI with SimPET Insert
Brightonix and the SimPET

13. Brightonix and the SimPET
https://www.scintica.com/potential-role-of-aspect-imagings-compact-1t-preclinical-scanner-in-imaging-research/

14. Brightonix and the SimPET
www.scintica.com

15. SimPET Technical Specifications

16. PET Detectors
SimPET Technical
Detector Ring Detector Block
• PET detectors consist of multiple detector blocks arrange in a detector ring

17. • The standard photodetector in clinical PET is the photomultiplier tube (PMT)
PMT PET Detectors
SimPET Technical
• PMT’s are highly sensitive to magnetic fields

18. • The SimPET insert utilizes Silicon Photo
Multiplier (SiPM) detectors
• Insensitive to magnetic fields
• Compact size
• Single photon resolution
• High photon detection efficiency
• Superior time resolution
SiPM Detector Properties
SimPET Technical
RF
Coil
PET
Insert
Carbon fiber
shield

19. • 64 Silicon Photo Multiplier (SiPM)
detectors
• 16 detector modules
• 4 detector blocks
• Each detector block is composed of a 9 x
9 array of lutetium yttrium orthosilicate
(LSO) crystals
SiPM Detector Properties
SimPET Technical

20. Full Integration with the Aspect M7 Compact MRI
SimPET Technical
SimPET Backend
Electronics Unit
SimPET Insert
Power
& Signal
Price: $699,000
SimPET Insert
RF coil &
animal bed

21. The Smallest Footprint for PET/MRI available
SimPET Technical
≈ 10’
≈ 10’

22. • Intuitive User Interface
• Real-time count rate-monitoring
• Flexible data acquisition
• In-line image reconstruction
• Bq/ml or SUV quantification
• PET/MRI geometric calibration
• MRI based attenuation correction
• Easy quality control
SimPET GUI
SimPET Technical

23. SimPET Configurations
SimPET Technical
Parameter SimPET-S SimPET-X SimPET-L SimPET-XL
Crystal material LSO
Crystal dimension (mm3) 1.2×1.2×10
Insert inner diameter (cm) 6.0 7.6
Insert outer diameter (cm) 9.9 11.2
Axial FOV (cm) 5.5 11 5.5 11
Sensitivity (%) 4.7 8.1 4.0 7.4
Spatial resolution (mm) < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1
Energy resolution (%) 10 10 10 10

24. Audience Poll

25. SimPET Performance Capabilities

26. SimPET Performance

27. Intrinsic Performance
SimPET Performance
• Following NEMA NU 4-2008
standard, the performance of the
SimPET-S system was evaluated
• Every LSO scintillation crystal was
well resolved
• Average energy resolution of 9.5 ±
0.8 %
Representative flood maps of the
SimPET scanner

28. Spatial Resolution
SimPET Performance
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
0 5 10 15 20
FWHM(mm)
Radial position (mm)
radial
tangential
axial
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
0 5 10 15 20
FWHM(mm)
Radial position (mm)
radial
tangential
axial
Spatial resolution of the SimPET scanner
obtained using 3D OSEM reconstruction
algorithm using 22Na point source with no
background
Spatial resolution of the SimPET scanner
obtained using 3D OSEM reconstruction
algorithm using 22Na point source with 10 %
warm background

29. Sensitivity
SimPET Performance
• Sensitivity was also measured using a
22Na point source placed at the center of
the transaxially FOV.
• The peak sensitivity was 4.21% in the
250–750 keV
• The peak sensitivity was 3.12% in the
350–650 keV
• The peak sensitivity was 2.70% in the
400 –600 keV

30. Count Rate Performance
SimPET Performance
• In the 250–750 keV
energy window, the peak
NEC was 151 kcps at
38.4 MBq
• The peak TRUE count
rate was 265 kcps at
59.7 MBq
• The scatter fraction was
22.0%

31. Image Quality Phantom
SimPET Performance
• NEMA NU-4 image quality phantom 5.48 6.34 4.62 4.42
0.17 0.52 0.75 0.85 0.90
0.15 0.13
RC
12.3 6.87 7.03 6.06 6.34
14.6 12.7

32. Hot Rod Phantom
SimPET Performance
• Reconstructed images of a
hot rod phantom with rod
diameters of 0.75, 1.00,
1.35, 1.70, 2.00, 2.40 mm
using
• a) 3D OSEM algorithm with
the incorporation of point
spread function (PSF)
• b) without PSF incorporation

33. SimPET and the Aspect M7
MRI

34. MRI Compatibility
SimPET and the Aspect M7
a) MRI images on a uniform
phantom.
b) SNR and uniformity
measures of MRI images
c) PET count rates during
various MRI pulse
sequences

35. Whole Body Simultaneous PET/MRI
SimPET and the Aspect M7
b) PET/MRI images after intravenous
injection of 64Cu-NOTA-ironoxide.
a) 18F-NaF mouse whole-body PET image
(maximum intensity projection).

36. SimPET in Action

37. Audience Poll

38. Oncologic PET/MRI with SUV (standard uptake value)
quantification
SimPET in Action
• [ 18F]FDG PET and T2
FSE MRI scans
conducted to
investigate the effects
of tumor associated
macrophages on
tumor hypoxia and
aerobic glycolysis
(Cancer Research,
2019)

39. High spatial-resolution PET/MR imaging in the mouse arthritis
model
SimPET in Action
• Simultaneously
acquired and matched
[18F]FDG PET (300
µCi, 60-min uptake)
and 3D GRE MR
images in arthritis
model mouse

40. Multi-modal PET/MRI probes with different core sizes
SimPET in Action
• Simultaneous
PET/MRI enables the
highly accurate
assessment of
spatiotemporal
distribution of radio-
labeled IONPs with
different core sizes
(Courtesy of Prof. YS
Lee in Seoul National
Univ.)

41. Synergetic combination of high sensitivity PET and fine
resolution MRI
SimPET in Action
• High sensitivity of
SimPET and fine
spatial-resolution of
Aspect M7 MRI enable
investigations into
enhanced tumor
targeting with newly
developed IONP-based
dual modal imaging
probe

42. Establishment of a [18F]-FDG-PET/MRI Imaging Protocol for
Gastric Cancer PDX as a Preclinical Research Tool
SimPET in Action
Bae, S. W., Berlth, F., Jeong, K. Y., Suh, Y. S., Kong, S. H., Lee, H. J., Kim, W. H., Chung, J. K., & Yang, H. K.
(2020). Establishment of a [18F]-FDG-PET/MRI Imaging Protocol for Gastric Cancer PDX as a Preclinical
Research Tool. Journal of gastric cancer, 20(1), 60–71.

43. SUMMARY
• Positron Emission Tomography
• Brightonix and the SimPET System
• SimPET Technical Capabilities
• SimPET and Aspect M7 MRI
• Applications

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Q&A
SESSION:
Patrick McCunn, PhD
Postdoctoral Research
Fellow in Neurosciences
and Mental Health
Hospital for Sick Children