FastMOT - Fast gated superconducting nanowire camera for multi-functional optical tomograph

传统上，通过超声、X射线（包括CT）、PET或MRI进行器官监测和深部身体功能成像。这些技术仅允许非常有限的功能测量，通常与外源性和放射性试剂结合。在这个项目中，我们提出了一个创新的光传感解决方案，一个快速门控，超高量子效率的单光子传感器，使多功能的深层身体成像与漫射光学。这种新型传感器基于超导纳米线单光子探测器，已被证明是超快和高效的。然而，到目前为止，有效面积和像素数已被限制为微米直径和数十个像素。我们提出了两种新的读出技术，光学门控和电荷耦合的组合，以克服这一限制和规模为10,000像素和毫米直径。此外，我们还将开发新的策略来执行TD-NIRS和TD-SCOS，以便通过蒙特-卡罗模拟最佳地使用这种新的光传感器。我们将在光学断层扫描仪中实现新的光传感器，与使用现有光传感器相比，SNR提高了100倍。利用我们提出的多功能光学断层扫描仪，我们将能够对深部器官和光学结构进行成像，并监测包括氧合、血流动力学、灌注和代谢在内的功能

Traditionally, monitoring of organs and deep body functional imaging is done by ultrasound, X-Rays (incl CT), PET or MRI. These techniques only allow for very limited measurements of functionality, usually combined with exogenous and radioactive agents. In this project we propose an innovative light sensing solution, a fast gated, ultra-high quantum efficiency single-photon sensor, to enable multi-functional deep body imaging with diffuse optics. The new type of sensor is based on superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, that have shown to be ultra-fast and highly efficient. However, until now the active area and number of pixels has been limited to micrometers diameter and tens of pixels. We propose the combination of two new readout techniques, optical gating and charge coupling, to overcome this limit and scale to 10,000 pixels and millimeter diameter. In addition we will develop new strategies for performing TD-NIRS and TD-SCOS to use this new light sensor optimally with Monte-Carlo simulations. We will implement the new light sensor in an optical tomograph and achieve a 100x improvement of SNR compared to using existing light sensors. With our proposed Multifunctional Optical Tomograph we will be able to image deep organ and optical structures and monitor functions including oxygenation, haemodynamics, perfusion and metabolism