Performance evaluation of SiPM photodetectors for PET imaging in the presence of magnetic fields

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe multi pixel photon counter (MPPC) or silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), recently introduced as a solid state photodetector, consists of an array of Geiger mode photodiodes (microcells). It is a promising device for PET due to its potential for high photon detection efficiency (PDE) and its foreseeable immunity to magnetic fields. It is also easy to use with simple read outs, has a high gain and a small size. In this work we evaluate the in field performance of three 1 Â 1 mm 2 (with 100, 400 and 1600 microcells, respectively) and one 6 Â 6 mm 2 (arranged as a 2 Â 2 array) Hamamatsu MPPCs for their use in PET imaging. We examine the dependence of the energy resolution and the gain of these devices on the temperature and reverse bias voltage, when coupled to LYSO scintillator crystals under conditions that one would find in a PET system. We find that the 400 and 1600 microcells models and the 2 Â 2 array are suitable for small size crystals, like those employed in high resolution small animal scanners. We have confirmed the good performance of these devices up to magnetic fields of 7 T as well as their suitability for performing PET acquisitions in the presence of fast switching gradients and high duty radiofrequency MRI sequences.

LaBr3:Ce and SiPMs for time-of-flight PET: achieving 100 ps coincidence resolving time

“…In addition, these solid-state devices are much more compact and essentially transparent to 511 keV gamma rays. This enables novel detector designs aimed at, for example, compactness, high resolution, depth-of-interaction (DOI) correction, etc (España et al 2010, Kolb et al 2008, Llosá et al 2008, Pestotnik et al 2008, Schaart et al 2008b, Song et al 2008. Moreover, in contrast with PMTs, SiPMs are compatible with magnetic fields, a feature that is very interesting in light of recent endeavours to combine PET and MRI into hybrid imaging devices (Catana et al 2006, Shao et al 1997, Townsend 2008.…”

Time of flight measurements based on FPGA and SiPMs for PET–MR

“…Parameters such as the rise time and the TTS of the signal, the working temperature of the sensor, the voltage supply thereof, and the amount of received light, have direct influence in the system resolution [2,8]. In the case of the rise time, the faster the rise time the lower the jitter and, thus, it is recommended to obtain values of rise time as low as possible [9,10].…”

“…Although there are some alternatives, the one that has outweighed all of them has been the Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) technology [2]. This new detector approach has come up with the use of SiPMs as a replacement for PSPMTs in order to overcome their limitations and, furthermore, include some advantages.…”

Design of DOI PET detector modules using phoswich and SiPMs: First results

“…For this purpose a matrix of SiPM [3] is coupled to this crystal array and its signals are connected to an anger logic type of charge divider [4]. These position signals are digitized and the time decay constant of the crystal of interaction determines the crystal of interaction.…”