Geiger photodiodes for diffuse optical correlation tomography

Based on CMOS Geiger photodiode (GPD) pixels developed at RMD Inc. and fabricated with MOSIS consortium, we present a detector design that is capable of providing high-speed and single optical photon sensitivity in the near infrared region. The integration of the electronic reset with these CMOS pixels enables their use in a cost-effective large imaging array to provide a substantial increase in the signal-to-noise ratio and facilitate the high-speed, pixel-level signal processing required for photon-counting Diffuse Correlation Tomography (DCT). DCT is an imaging technique in progress that promises to provide a method for routine, non-invasive cancer screening and treatment by imaging blood flow, tissue oxygenation, and the distinct vasculature associated with the angiogenesis of cancerous growth using non-ionizing radiation. In this work, we present results of the design, fabrication and characterization of the CMOS Geiger pixels and their associated integrated reset circuits for DCT measurements.