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True TOF technology

True TOF technology

Set the standard in PET/CT

With the advent of fast scintillator detectors with lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystals, true time of flight (TOF) became a realistic innovation for the clinical setting. 

Intensified research since the 2000s focusing on true TOF PET/CT systems has shown numerous advantages that LSO-based TOF brings, such as better definition of small lesions, improved uniformity, reduced noise, and sensitivity gain.

Scientific presentation

Timing is of the essence:  Unlocking the potential of PET/CT with time of flight, presented by Dr. Ian Armstrong.

Ask the experts

Watch a series of interviews from key industry experts.

Improving image quality with LSO-based time of flight

Ziad Burbar, MS

Features & Benefits

With the advent of fast scintillator detectors with lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystals, true time of flight (TOF) became a realistic innovation for the clinical setting.

Intensified research since the 2000s focusing on true TOF PET/CT systems has shown numerous advantages that LSO-based TOF brings, such as better definition of small lesions, improved uniformity, reduced noise, and sensitivity gain.

Optimized performance and clinical advantages

The ability to offer true TOF depends on the timing response of the detector. Biograph™ PET/CT scanners’ fast LSO crystals and optimized electronics are designed to convert the analog signal from the crystals into a digital signal that allows measurement of the TOF resolution. 

  • True TOF enables improved signal-to-noise ratio—faster scans, lower injected dose, and better image quality.1 
  • TOF gain amplifies1 scanner sensitivity for faster scans and lower doses. 
  • True TOF creates segments in the line-of-response, significantly increasing the accuracy of locating the annihilation event.

PET/CT SiPM technology

All Biograph PET/CT scanners are TOF-capable, empowering lower doses and faster scan times. By measuring the difference between the detection of each coincidence photon, they can better determine the event location along the line-of-response. This makes small segments of response—increasing the accuracy of locating the annihilation event. 

With the development of silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detectors, PET/CT systems are now able to deliver faster TOF performance, which further reduces the segments of response, helps to better localize each event, and decreases noise within the reconstructed image.

Clinical Use

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Cardiology

01

Liver

01

Neurology

01

Prostate

01
True TOF technology

Data courtesy of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.

True time of flight (TOF) improves definition and contrast for cardiac imaging with 82Rb

  • Sharper definition of myocardial edge in left ventricle with TOF 
  • Higher iteration reconstruction along with higher contrast for improved LV dimension definition and ischemia assessment 
  • 65-yr-old male 
  • 182 cm (5’ 9”) 
  • 81 kg (179 lb) 
  • 26.4 BMI

    Biograph Vision™ PET/CT
    PET
    Scan acquisition:  220 x 220 matrix, PSF+TOF 4i5s Gaussian 6
    Scan time:  1 bed position / 5 min per bed
    5 min total scan time
    Injected dose: Rubidium 82 (82Rb)
    Stress 20 mCi (740 MBq)

    CT
    Scan parameters:  120 kV/7 ref mAs
True TOF technology
TOF liver PET/CT scan
TOF brain scan
TOF prostate PET/CT scan
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The outcomes achieved by the Siemens Healthineers customers described herein were achieved in the customer’s unique setting. Since there is no “typical” hospital and many variables exist (eg, hospital size, case mix, level of IT adoption) there can be no guarantee that others will achieve the same results. 

[a]

See below for Indications and Important Safety Information for Fludeoxyglucose F 18 (18F FDG) Injection.

[b]

The tracer used in this case is a research pharmaceutical. It is neither recognized to be safe and effective by the FDA nor commercially available in the United States or in other countries worldwide. Its future availability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens Healthineers organization for further details.

1
Based on internal measurements at time of publication. Data on file.
2

The features herein are not commercially available in all countries. Its future availability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens Healthineers organization for further details. 

Biograph Vision is not commercially available in all countries. Its future availability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens Healthineers organization for further details.

Header image data courtesy of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.

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