Computed tomography system using a new MPGD for small animal imaging with energy resolving capability

Micropatterned Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs) have been used for several years in single photon counting and energy resolved imaging systems. This kind of detectors presents suitable characteristics for such purposes as: elimination of the electronic noise, good energy resolution and high counting rate capability, absence of dead areas and 2D intrinsic position discrimination capability. A Computed Tomography (CT) system using a Thick COBRA (THCOBRA) with energy resolution capability envisaging small animal imaging is being developed. By using this kind of single photon counting and energy resolved detector it is possible to retain the interaction position information and energy of each detected single photon, allowing the application of Energy Weighting Technique (EWT) and, therefore, improvement of image quality. Cross-sectional images of a Poly(methyl methacrylate) - PMMA - phantom and of a sea snail are presented.