Solid state photodetectors for nuclear medical imaging applications

One of the most important challenges facing the entire globe is the trend towards an aging population. By 2045, there will be more people over 60 years old than younger than 15, thus raising from 600mln to 2bln worldwide. This will raise the number of patients with age-specific, chronic and degenerative diseases (e.g. cardio-vascular, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer´s, Parkinson´s). Minimally-invasive imaging technologies such as PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and MPI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) play a vital role in detecting and tracking the evolution of the above mentioned illnesses and determining the strategy and the effectiveness of the prescribed therapies. So far the detection unit of PET equipment has been implemented using photomultipliers tubes (PMTs). A novel solid state photo-detector, the Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), can replace the PMT, offering, among many other advantages, the possibility of PET/MRI combo equipment.