Dual-probe imaging system and process of using same

A system for imaging comprising:

• a primary probe to irradiate a first tissue;
• an auxiliary probe to irradiate a second tissue;
• an optical tomography device connected to the auxiliary probe and the primary probe;
• an ultrasound device connected to the primary probe;
• and
• a processor unit connected to the optical tomography device, the processor unit being configured to background-correct data of the first tissue collected by the primary probe using data of the second tissue collected by the auxiliary probe in real time.

A process for imaging, the process comprising:

• disposing a primary probe on a first tissue, the primary probe comprising a first near infrared source, first light detector, and ultrasound transducer;
• disposing an auxiliary probe on a second tissue, the auxiliary probe comprising a second near infrared source and second light detector;
• irradiating the first tissue with a first near infrared wavelength and an ultrasound frequency from the primary probe;
• irradiating the second tissue with a second near infrared wavelength from the auxiliary probe to produce an image of the first tissue;
• and
• in real time, background-correcting data of the first tissue collected by the primary probe using data of the second tissue collected by the auxiliary probe.