Gamma ray imaging with silicon detectors - a Compton camera for radionuclide imaging in medicine

The technique of Compton scatter imaging, its possible medical applications and the fundamental parameters affecting its performance are described. Monte Carlo simulations of a Compton camera for a number of detector and geometrical configurations indicate a high intrinsic efficiency (≅ 2%) and best values for the point-source response function (PSRF) full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of ≅ 3 mm. The unusual nature of the PSRF and the problems of image reconstruction are briefly discussed. The choice of a suitable position-sensitive semiconductor detector is shown to be most critical - suggestions are made as to the most suitable detector and a prototype system is described. (orig.)