GATE: A simulation toolkit for PET and SPECT Journal Article

   


Authors: Jan, S.; Santin, G.; Strul, D.; Staelens, S.; Assié, K.; Autret, D.; Avner, S.; Barbier, R.; Bardiès, M.; Bloomfield, P. M.; Brasse, D.; Breton, V.; Bruyndonckx, P.; Buvat, I.; Chatziioannou, A. F.; Choi, Y.; Chung, Y. H.; Comtat, C.; Donnarieix, D.; Ferrer, L.; Glick, S. J.; Groiselle, C. J.; Guez, D.; Honore, P. F.; Kerhoas-Cavata, S.; Kirov, A. S.; Kohli, V.; Koole, M.; Krieguer, M.; van der Laan, D. J.; Lamare, F.; Largeron, G.; Lartizien, C.; Lazaro, D.; Maas, M. C.; Maigne, L.; Mayet, F.; Melot, F.; Merheb, C.; Pennacchio, E.; Pérez, J.; Pietrzyk, U.; Rannou, F. R.; Rey, M.; Schaart, D. R.; Schmidtlein, C. R.; Simon, L.; Song, T. Y.; Vieira, J. M.; Visvikis, D.; Van de Walle, R.; Wieërs, E.; Morel, C.
Article Title: GATE: A simulation toolkit for PET and SPECT
Abstract: Monte Carlo simulation is an essential tool in emission tomography that can assist in the design of new medical imaging devices, the optimization of acquisition protocols and the development or assessment of image reconstruction algorithms and correction techniques. GATE, the Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission, encapsulates the Geant4 libraries to achieve a modular, versatile, scripted simulation toolkit adapted to the field of nuclear medicine. In particular, GATE allows the description of time-dependent phenomena such as source or detector movement, and source decay kinetics. This feature makes it possible to simulate time curves under realistic acquisition conditions and to test dynamic reconstruction algorithms. This paper gives a detailed description of the design and development of GATE by the OpenGATE collaboration, whose continuing objective is to improve, document and validate GATE by simulating commercially available imaging systems for PET and SPECT. Large effort is also invested in the ability and the flexibility to model novel detection systems or systems still under design. A public release of GATE licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License can be downloaded at http:/www-lphe.epfl.ch/GATE/. Two benchmarks developed for PET and SPECT to test the installation of GATE and to serve as a tutorial for the users are presented. Extensive validation of the GATE simulation platform has been started, comparing simulations and measurements on commercially available acquisition systems. References to those results are listed. The future prospects towards the gridification of GATE and its extension to other domains such as dosimetry are also discussed. © 2004 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Keywords: detectors; validation process; quality control; reproducibility of results; algorithms; simulation; imaging system; medical imaging; dosimetry; computer assisted emission tomography; computer simulation; thermodynamics; single photon emission computer tomography; computer program; software; monte carlo method; optimization; tomography, emission-computed, single-photon; documentation; emission tomography; data acquisition; priority journal; article; correction techniques
Journal Title: Physics in Medicine and Biology
Volume: 49
Issue: 19
ISSN: 0031-9155
Publisher: IOP Publishing Ltd  
Date Published: 2004-10-07
Start Page: 4543
End Page: 4561
Language: English
DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/49/19/007
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC3267383
PUBMED: 15552416
DOI/URL:

http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-5744251917&partnerID=40&md5=ea64208f0498769b84d1ce4ec5077ab9
Notes: Phys. Med. Biol. -- Cited By (since 1996):674 -- Export Date: 16 June 2014 -- CODEN: PHMBA -- Source: Scopus
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