Time-of-Flight PET Detector Based on Multi-Pixel Photon Counter and Its Challenges

Geiger-mode multi-pixel APD is being recognized as the best alternative solid-state photo-sensor to vacuum PMT for various specific applications. Especially, its magnetic field immunity and high gain made it popular in MR/PET detector research. In this paper, we utilized its compactness, high gain and high photon detection efficiency in the design of TOF PET detector. In a typical block detector based on PMT, the full timing capability of both PMT and scintillator could not be achieved due to its light sharing for Anger logic scheme. Since Geiger-mode APD is a solid-state based technology, we can apply one-to-one coupling between a scintillator and the photo-sensor to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio. Also, the high photon detection efficiency of MPPC, Geiger mode APD from Hamamatsu, would help to improve timing resolution. So, we made a block detector based on a 4 x 4 array of 3 x 3 mm(2) MPPC coupled to a 4 x 4 array of 3 x 3 x 25 mm(3) LYSO crystals to evaluate its performance. We have achieved the average of 9% energy resolution and 314 ps coincidence timing resolution with very good uniformity. This block timing resolution showed no degradation in timing compared to individual single channel timing resolution as expected from one-to-one readout. On top of that, the result proves that the solid-state based photo-sensor can be used for TOF PET detector. During the development and setup of the detector, we recognized that a compact and low power electronics readout scheme is one of the biggest challenges, including its cost, for MPPC or other Geiger-mode APD to be used in products.