Electronics dedicated to multi-anode photomultiplier tubes for imaging scintigraphic devices

The common photo-detector used in the imaging scintigraphic devices (SPECT, PET, gamma camera) is still the traditional photomultiplier tube (PMT). Nowadays, semiconductor detectors are available to replace them but also multi-anode photomultipliers which have the advantages of a very good stability and reliability, essential requirements for commercial products. Our group has developed a small animal SPECT device and a per-operative gamma camera designed for the localization of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer treatment. Both systems are based on two different multi-anode PMTs suited to the needed sensitive area. A compact electronics has been developed to be adaptable for both projects. It integrates all the necessary signal processing, power supplies, first data treatment and communicates through a USB link with a computer where the scintigraphic image is created. This document presents this generic electronics which could be still adapted for other applications using multi-anode photomultipliers