Fundamental considerations for integrating silicon photomultipliers in frequency domain diffuse optical spectroscopy

Vincent J. Kitsmiller; Thomas D. O'Sullivan

doi:10.1117/12.2546487

2 March 2020 Fundamental considerations for integrating silicon photomultipliers in frequency domain diffuse optical spectroscopy

Vincent J. Kitsmiller, Thomas D. O'Sullivan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11274, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XXVIII; 112740T (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2546487
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2020, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Diffuse optical spectroscopy is a well-established methodology for noninvasive functional imaging of biological tissue. Intrinsic contrast is provided by optical absorbers including hemoglobin, water, and lipid, which provides physiologicallyrelevant information on tissue composition, metabolism, and structure. Frequency domain diffuse optical spectroscopy (FD-DOS), unlike continuous-wave DOS, provides measures of absolute absorption and scattering using phase-resolved intensity-modulated (>50 MHz) light and enables deeper and more accurate tissue characterization. However, the imaging depth and sensitivity of FD-DOS is almost always constrained by photodetector sensitivity. It has been recently demonstrated that by using highly sensitive silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detectors, these limitations may be overcome. Though SiPMs are typically employed in photon-counting or pulsed time-domain measurement applications, they provide up to 30dB increase in signal to noise ratio and deeper tissue sensitivity, as compared to avalanche photodiodes in FDDOS. In this paper, we explore how fundamental SiPM characteristics affect the detection of FD-DOS signals. We develop simulations capable of evaluating and optimizing SiPM parameters (microcell size, microcell number, and recharge time constant) utilizing a Monte Carlo approach to SiPM response from modulated FD-DOS signals. The effects of these parameters are examined in relation to bandwidth and signal to noise ratio, thus providing a methodology for choosing the best SiPM for this unconventional application, and further improving FD-DOS performance.

Citation Download Citation

Vincent J. Kitsmiller and Thomas D. O'Sullivan "Fundamental considerations for integrating silicon photomultipliers in frequency domain diffuse optical spectroscopy", Proc. SPIE 11274, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XXVIII, 112740T (2 March 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2546487

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
11 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Signal to noise ratio

Monte Carlo methods

Sensors

Tissue optics

Modulation

Photodetectors

Avalanche photodetectors

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years