Sipm Sensor Chip

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) sensor chip with an innovative design that improves the accuracy and sensitivity of detectors used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET), particularly by addressing the longstanding problem of interaction depth (Depth-of-Interaction, DOI) errors. The chip arranges many microcells (each with photodiodes and circuitry) into a matrix and uses special circuitry to encode pixel positions and sum signals smartly. This configuration allows the sensor to determine not only the x/y location but also the depth where gamma-ray interactions occur within a scintillation crystal, reducing parallax errors and enabling higher image resolution. The design is compact, reduces the number of required readout channels, and is compatible with MRI systems.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• PET imaging systems for medical diagnosis (whole-body, brain, or small-animal scans)
• Hybrid imaging devices that combine PET and MRI usage where space and compatibility are constrained
• High-resolution PET detectors for research in neuroscience, oncology, or cardiology
• Industrial or security applications requiring precise gamma-ray detection and localization
• Other scintillation-based gamma-ray detector systems where precise 3D event localization is essential

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Minimizes or eliminates parallax errors (DOI problem) in PET imaging, leading to more accurate diagnostics
• Allows use of longer scintillation crystals to enhance sensitivity without sacrificing spatial resolution
• Reduces the number of readout channels, saving cost, space, and complexity in the detector electronics
• Compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), enabling integrated PET/MRI systems
• High spatial granularity and precision due to detailed microcell arrangement and advanced signal processing
• Potential for lower manufacturing costs and compact designs
• Improved signal-to-noise performance by integrating analog summation circuitry directly onto the chip

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to an SiPM sensor chip in which pixels consisting of microcells with at least one photodiode, at least one quench resistor, and a current divider are arranged in a raster. The positions of the pixels are determined using a linear code, and a summing network is integrated which taps voltages from the outputs of the current divider for the directions x and y, said voltages being supplied to an operation amplifier with an output channel via a common line NS,v,m or NS,h,n. By using the sensor chip according to the invention, the interaction depth problem can be minimized or completely solved, in particular for PET.