An FPGA based DAQ system for the readout of Madeira PET probe

Madeira project aims to significantly improve three-dimensional (3D) nuclear medicine imaging technologies via a compact photon-sensitive probe interfaced to an external conventional PET ring and placed close to the region of interest. The probe consists of several modules densely packed. Each module is made of two high-resistivity silicon detectors of 1 mm thickness and 1040 square pixels of 1 mm
²
. The detectors are placed back-to-back at a distance of 0.8 mm. The pads are read out with the VATAGP7 chip, a Gamma Medica - Ideas designed application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). A FPGA based DAQ system has been designed and developed at IFIC-Valencia to read out the probe. The system consists of several DAQ boards working in parallel which control the acquisition process. The DAQ board has trigger and coincidence capabilities to be used in coincidence with a conventional PET scanner. This work describes the characteristics of the system and its architecture, and also the future activities.