Terasic Develops Breakthrough Medical Imaging System!

Following a string of successful design cases, Terasic Technologies has delivered again! As the world’s premier electronics design service provider and manufacturer, Terasic has successfully co-designed and manufactured a complex multi-FPGA electronics support platform for medical imaging.

Known as OpenPET, scientists from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and senseL Corporation are undertaking a truly preeminent project for general purpose readout electronics for radionuclide imaging. The significance lies in the fact that the entire system is completely open-source, compounding the influence immensely. Briefly described, OpenPET consists of circuit boards, firmware, and software for researchers building prototype PET and SPECT imagers. Promoted as high performance, flexible, scalable, OpenPET is set to revolutionize medical imaging the same way all open-source missions has furthered the expansion of technology.

To deliver on this massive goal of scalability which demands supporting up to thousands of detectors, OpenPET required the use of specialized IC chips known as FPGAs, which provide the immense benefit of re-programmability. To conquer this goal, Berkeley Labs enlisted the help of Terasic Technologies, a primary provider in FPGA development platforms throughout the world, to assist in developing the layout and manufacturing of these complex systems. With specifications including three Altera Cyclone III FPGAs, gigabit Ethernet interfaces, multiple memory features, 12 VME connectors, and more, Berkeley relied on the expertise and professionalism of Terasic to develop an intricate 20-layer board solution, all while under the pressure to complete in just 8 weeks.

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