Algorithm enabled TOF-PET imaging with reduced scan time

Time-of-flight (TOF) positron emission tomography (PET) has gained remarkable development recently due to the advances in scintillator, silicon photomultipliers (SiPM), and fast electronics. However, current clinical reconstruction algorithms in TOF-PET are still based on ordered-subset-expectation-maximization (OSEM) and its variants, which may face challenges in non-conventional imaging applications, such as fast imaging within short scan time. In this work, we propose an image-TV constrained optimization problem, and tailor a primal dual algorithm for solving the problem and reconstructing images. We collect list-mode data of a Jaszczak phantom with a prototype digital TOF-PET scanner. We focus on investigating image reconstruction from data collected within reduced scan time, and thus of lower count levels. Results of the study indicate that our proposed algorithm can 1) yield image reconstruction with suppressed noise, extended axial volume coverage, and improved spatial resolution over that obtained in conventional reconstructions, and 2) yield reconstructions with potential clinical utility from data collected within shorter scan time.