News & Events
News & Events
RatCAP: a small, head-mounted PET tomograph for imaging the brain of an awake rat
This paper will describe the novel features and challenges of this new detector, along with preliminary results obtained with a pair of block detectors used in a configuration similar to the final tomograph. Results are given on studies carried out to optimize the...
Initial studies using the RatCAP conscious animal PET tomograph
Construction of the first working prototype detector has been completed and its performance characteristics have been measured. First preliminary images have been obtained using 18F-FDG and 11C-methamphetamine, which show comparable image quality to those obtained...
System Performance Simulations of the RatCAP Awake Rat Brain Scanner
The effects of the RatCAPs small ring diameter ( 40 mm) and its block detector geometry on image quality for small animal studies have been investigated. In addition to Monte Carlo simulations, some preliminary results of experimentally acquired images in both...
Integrating PET with behavioral neuroscience using RatCAP tomography
Small animals typically require anesthesia to remain still during PET imaging, which places a burden on behavioral studies. Our approach integrates PET with behavioral observations using a miniature PET scanner that rats wear on the head, a mobility system to...
Front-End Electronics for the RatCAP Mobile Animal PET Scanner
We report on the development of the front-end electronics for RatCAP. So far, three ASIC prototypes implementing part of the electronics were sent to fabrication. Results from the characterization of the first two prototypes are presented and discussed… View Full...
The RatCAP Front-End ASIC
We report on the design and characterization of a new ASIC for the RatCAP. The ASIC is composed of 32 channels, each consisting of a charge sensitive preamplifier, a 5-bit programmable gain in the pole-zero network, a 3 order bipolar semi-Gaussian shaper (peaking time...
Digital Coincidence Processing for the RatCAP Conscious Rat Brain PET Scanner
In order to maximize system performance, offline digital coincidence data processing algorithms including offset delay correction and prompt and delayed coincidence detection have been developed and validated. The experimental results confirm that the ratio of prompts...
Next Generation of Real Time Data Acquisition, Calibration and Control System for the RatCAP Scanner
In order to maximize system performance, offline digital coincidence data processing algorithms including offset delay correction and prompt and delayed coincidence detection have been developed and validated. The experimental results confirm that the ratio of prompts...
Simultaneous assessment of rodent behavior and neurochemistry using a miniature positron emission tomograph
The simultaneity of the PET and behavioral data provides a multidimensional tool for studying the functions of different brain regions and their molecular constituents. Key components include the ‘rat conscious animal PET’ or RatCAP, a miniature portable PET scanner...
Rapid [18F]FDG Uptake in Brain of Awake, Behaving Rat and Anesthetized Chicken has Implications for Behavioral PET Studies in Species with High Metabolisms
The rapid uptake times of 18F-FDG both in the awake, behaving rat and the anesthetized chicken together with the rapid dynamics of rat and chicken behavior suggest that uptake times matched accurately with behavior for the same time periods will reduce random error in...