High throughput detection chain for time domain optical mammography

Abstract

A novel detection chain, based on 8 Silicon Photomultipliers (forming a wide-area custom-made detection probe) and on a time-to-digital converter, was developed to improve the signal level in multi-wavelength (635-1060 nm) time domain optical mammography. The performances of individual components and of the overall chain were assessed using established protocols (BIP and MEDPHOT). The photon detection efficiency was improved by up to 3 orders of magnitude, and the maximum count rate level was increased by a factor of 10 when compared to the previous system, based on photomultiplier tubes and conventional time-correlated single-photon counting boards. In the estimate of optical parameters, the novel detection chain provides performances comparable to the previous system, widely validated in clinics, but with higher signal level, higher robustness, and at a lower price per channel, thus targeting important requirements for clinical applications.

Optical characterization of porcine tissues from various organs in the 650–1100 nm range using time-domain diffuse spectroscopy

“…The knowledge of optical properties of biological tissues is vital in biomedical optics research, as it underpins the design of effective devices and methods [1,2] or planning therapeutic protocols [3,4] and it is also crucial for interpreting diagnostic measurements [5]. The optimization and characterization of biophotonics systems are often carried out using tissue-mimicking optical phantoms [6][7][8].…”

Performance of a 6 × 6 mm2 SiPM Module for Time-Domain Diffuse Optics

“…The results obtained are in line with state-ofthe-art systems capable of performing measurements in transmittance geometry. For instance, a 8 channel system based on SiPMs with active area of 1.3 × 1.3 mm 2 as described in [30], demonstrated very similar performance in terms of signal collection and reliable retrieval of optical properties of phantoms with high absorption and scattering properties (i.e., µ 𝑎 = 0.47 cm −1 and μ s ′ = 20 cm −1 ). It must be noted that in that case the use of 8 SiPMs cooled results in a large optical responsivity while maintaining a low DCR at the expense of the system complexity: indeed, each SiPM has a signal output that has to be connected to a dedicated channel of the TDC.…”

Time-Gated Single-Photon Detection in Time-Domain Diffuse Optics: A Review

“…This increase will result in the possibility of computing the contrast produced by a localized perturbation at much later times along the recorded DTOF thanks to the increased collection of late photons, thus enhancing the depth sensitivity. To this purpose, SiPMs have been recently introduced in TD-DO [103][104][105][106] giving rise to a new generation of devices [100,106,107]. SiPMs are large-area microelectronics single-photon detectors based on multiple SPADs, each one with an integrated quenching resistor, with a common output signal.…”