Lateral crystal photodiode readouts and switched diode networks for processing nuclear events

A gamma radiation detector module, comprising:

• an array of elongated scintillation crystals to be positioned on a detector ring, the array comprising at least a first row with first, second, third, and fourth elongated scintillation crystals,
• wherein each elongated scintillation crystal includes a proximal end-face, a distal end-face to be oriented into the detector ring to receive a gamma photon, and four lateral faces, including a first lateral face, a second lateral face, a third lateral face, and a fourth lateral face, and
• wherein each elongated scintillation crystal is divided along its length between the proximal and distal end-faces into a plurality of segmented volumes;
• an array of photosensors positioned along the first lateral face of each elongated scintillation crystal to detect scintillation photons;
• and
• a reflective material positioned on the proximal end-face, the distal end-face, and the second, third, and fourth lateral faces of each elongated scintillation crystal to internally reflect scintillation photons,
• wherein each row of elongated scintillation crystals includes at least:
• a first double-sided interposer positioned between the first and second scintillation crystal,
• a second double-sided interposer positioned between the third and fourth scintillation crystal.

A positron emission tomography (PET) scanning system, comprising:

• a plurality of gamma radiation detector modules positioned to form a detector ring;
• a cooling system to cool the detector modules;
• and
• an imaging system connected to the detector modules to generate an image based on electronic outputs from the detector modules, wherein each detector module comprises:
• an array of elongated scintillation crystals, each of which includes a proximal end-face, two axially oriented lateral faces, two transaxially oriented lateral faces, and a distal end-face radially oriented into the detector ring to receive a gamma photon,
• a double-sided interposer positioned between every other alternating pair of axially adjacent elongated scintillation crystals,
• an array of photosensors positioned between the double-sided interposer and one axially oriented lateral face of each elongated scintillation crystal, such that a given elongated scintillation crystal and a paired, axially adjacent elongated scintillation crystal are separated from one another in the axial direction by (i) the photosensors on an axially oriented lateral face of the given elongated scintillation crystal, (ii) the double-sided interposer, and (iii) the photosensors on an axially oriented lateral face of the paired, axially adjacent elongated scintillation crystal,
• a reflective material to internally reflect scintillation photons positioned on each face that does not have an array of photosensors positioned thereon, such that the given elongated scintillation crystal and a non-paired, axially adjacent elongated scintillation crystal are separated from one another in the axial direction by the reflective material, and such that the given elongated scintillation crystal and a transaxially adjacent elongated scintillation crystal are separated from one another in the transaxial direction by the reflective material.