This work is an overview of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) with a view to defining their importance for bio-photonic and clinical applications. SiPMs are benchmarked against other common photodetectors, namely, PIN diodes and avalanche photodetectors (APDs) and are compared with respect to important circuit design parameters. It will be shown that careful selection of the design bias voltage, overvoltage, gain defining components and device integration to micro-optics can allow SiPM detectors to achieve considerable sensitivity for auto-fluorescence (AF) detection and a wide dynamic range at low optical powers (~1 pW to ~4 μW). The SiPM has a manageable bias voltage (~25 V to ~30 V DC) for systems integration, and with optimised sensitivity it will enhance bio-photonic research in the area of AF to detect intraoperatively, for example, brain tumour margins.
Keywords: auto-fluorescence; bio-photonics; diffuse reflectance; sensor interface; silicon photomultiplier.