Crucial aspects for the use of silicon photomultiplier devices in continuous wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Giovanni Maira; Massimo Mazzillo; Sebania Libertino; Giorgio Fallica; Salvatore Lombardo

doi:10.1364/BOE.9.004679

Crucial aspects for the use of silicon photomultiplier devices in continuous wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Biomed Opt Express. 2018 Sep 7;9(10):4679-4688. doi: 10.1364/BOE.9.004679. eCollection 2018 Oct 1.

Authors

Giovanni Maira¹, Massimo Mazzillo², Sebania Libertino¹, Giorgio Fallica², Salvatore Lombardo¹

Affiliations

¹ IMM-CNR, Strada VIII n. 5, Zona Industriale, 95121, Catania, CT, Italy.
² STMicroelectronics s.r.l. Str. Primosole, n. 50, 95121, Catania, CT, Italy.

Abstract

In this work, we investigate some major issues for the use of silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) devices in continuous wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy (CW fNIRS). We analyzed the after-pulsing effect, proposing the physical mechanism causing it, and determining its relevance for CW fNIRS. We studied the SiPM transients occurring as the SiPM device goes from the dark (LED in off state) to the illumination (LED in on state) conditions, and vice-versa. Finally, we studied the SiPM SNR in standard CW fNIRS operation.

Keywords: (040.6040) Silicon; (110.0113) Imaging through turbid media; (120.3890) Medical optics instrumentation; (230.5160) Photodetectors; (290.1350) Backscattering; (300.6340) Spectroscopy, infrared.