PET, Positron Emission Tomography, is one of the most advanced medical molecular imaging devices. It can noninvasions, quantitatively and dynamically evaluate the functional activities of living organisms, and has unique advantages in the research, diagnosis and treatment of major diseases related to tumors, nerves and cardiovascular diseases.
As a medical imaging technology, it is an important tool for the development of precision medicine and personalized medicine. As a scientific instrument, it is a sharp tool to carry out brain science research and explore new methods of diagnosis and treatment of major diseases. As a high-performance medical device, it is the focus of the "Made in China 2025" plan.
However, due to the limitation of sampling of ultra-high speed scintillation pulse signal, the technical principle of traditional PET has not been breakthrough in the past 40 years. There are three shortcomings of "uncertainty, difficulty in use and narrow application" for a long time, which makes the huge potential of PET not fully play due to the limitation of performance.
To solve the problems above, Qingguo Xie, Huazhong university of science and technology professor, internationally in 2004 for the first time put forward the concept of "Digital PET", An innovative "multi-voltage threshold sampling"(MVT) is used to accurately digitize PET ultra high speed scintillation pulses. It has realized the pulse signal acquisition, detector technology, imaging system, three levels of innovation, developed a complete set of independent property rights, complete digital PET technology system.
The technology is characterized by "All digital" and "precise sampling". The traditional PET must add analog preprocessing circuit to change the signal to obtain the pulse information indirectly, with half the effort; The All-digital PET in the cancellation of the analog circuit, that is, to achieve the full digital signal processing at the same time to achieve the source of the precise digital signal, to achieve high precision signal restoration, the work is half and double the work. These two characteristics will bring "excellent performance, easy to use, quick manufacturing" and other revolutionary advantages.