A three-dimensional detector module for use in detecting annihilation
photons generated by positrons emitted from radio-labeled sites within a
body is formed from multiple solid state photo-detectors attached to one
or more scintillators. Each photo-detector can be attached to a
scintillator to form a photo-detector/scintillator combination and
multiple photo-detector/scintillator combinations can be arranged in an
array. Alternatively, multiple photo-detectors can be attached to the
surface of a single scintillator to form an array. Multiple arrays are
then stacked to form a photo-detector module. The modules can then be
assembled to form a sheet of photo-detector modules. Multiple sheets or
multiple modules can then be arranged around a body to detect emissions
from radio-labeled sites in the body. Multiple position sensors attached
to the photo-detectors, arrays or modules provide the ability to locate
the source of the positron emissions from the labeled sites in the body
and generate an image of the emission site. A series of novel PET
configurations can be constructed from these detector modules, making PET
scanners portable, more sensitive and flexible to be used in numerous
different operational configurations, such as operating room, emergency
rooms, critical care units, or battlefield.