Scientists in the US and China have developed the world’s first medical imaging camera built from perovskite crystals – a material better known for its role in solar panels.
The new detector, designed at Northwestern University and Soochow University, captures individual gamma rays with unprecedented precision. Researchers say it could make nuclear medicine scans such as SPECT both cheaper and more accurate.
Traditional scanners rely on cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) or sodium iodide detectors, which are either costly or produce fuzzier images. Perovskite technology, by contrast, is easier to manufacture, potentially lowering costs for hospitals while improving image quality.
The advance, published in Nature Communications, could shorten scan times, reduce radiation exposure for patients, and make high-quality imaging accessible to more clinics worldwide. A Northwestern spinout, Actinia Inc., is already working to commercialise the technology.
“This is the first clear proof that perovskite detectors can deliver the sharp, reliable images doctors need,” said study co-author Mercouri Kanatzidis. “It opens the door to clearer, faster and safer scans for patients everywhere.”
