Hokkaido University with the launch of Hitachi semiconductor by PET Technology

Hokkaido University and Hitachi production developed by positron emission tomography using a semiconductor detector body (PET) technology. PET had been using semiconductor detector and small animal, "for the human body or the world's first" (by Hitachi). Using this technology has successfully captured the tumor as the representative of the human body diagnostic image. Is currently in the stage of research and development, and strive to achieve practical level in the next 7 years (the company).

The advantage of using a semiconductor detector is to improve the resolution of the diagnostic image. The development of the spatial resolution of the technology can be identified 3mm.

Prior to the human body with the PET is not the use of semiconductor detectors, but the use of the name of the scintillator, as well as the crystallization of the optical amplifier called the amplifier will be released from the gamma ray into the electrical signal. "As a result of the indirect conversion into electrical signals, so the finite resolution, spatial resolution is about 6 ~ 10mm (produced by Hitachi).

The human body using PET semiconductor detector by the crystallization of CdTe and electrode stack. The test machine is equipped with 76 thousand and 32 such detectors. In order to make full use of the high resolution of the semiconductor detector, ASIC.

However, to be used in the medical field, not only to improve the resolution, also need to make the performance of the corresponding value in clinic "(by Hitachi). Therefore, the future will further explore how the technology can play a role in medicine.

PET testing machine for human body using semiconductor detection device

Comparison of spatial resolution. Left for the image using this technology

Source: Nikkei BP