Development and Test of TAB Bonded Microcables for Silicon Detectors in a Compton Prostate Probe

This contribution describes the work made towards packaging optimization in the frame of the development of an endorectal probe for imaging the prostate. This application is based on the concept of electronic collimation for single gamma detection taking advantage of the Compton scattering of the photons in a stack of 1 mm thick silicon pad detectors and their later absorption in an external detector. This concept allows to remove the mechanical collimators used in the usual gamma cameras and, therefore, provides the possibility of improving both sensitivity and resolution. Packaging of the silicon sensors and their associated electronics is of paramount importance in this application. To address this important aspect of the device we have explored the tape automated bonding (TAB) technique for the connection of the silicon sensors to the readout electronics and for routing the signals to the outside. TAB offers an elegant solution not only for a flexible and compact interconnection between the readout ASICs and the sensors but also for ASIC selection and testing prior to the assembly of the detector and their associated readout electronics