Development of next gen gamma camera by using silicon photomultiplier

The purpose of this research is to upgrade the Gama (Anger) Camera, a medical imaging tool, with the help of the recent detector technologies. Instead of the existing photomultiplier tubes (PMT) on Elscint brand Apex SPX CardiaL model gamma camera (provided by Istanbul University, Institute of Cardiology), more favorable silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) are used to redesign the gamma camera. The aim is to minimize the position resolution difference caused by the two detector designs. Different approaches on the readout signal and the position detection electronics are tested and discussed. To completely cover the one-piece Nal(Tl) inorganic scintillator crystal of the gamma camera that is worked on, the required number of SiPM needs to be increased. Different sizes of light guides are designed to avoid this negative situation and to reduce the costs. To what extent the guides affect the productivity of gamma camera is also tested and discussed.