Time-resolved optical backscattering tomographic image reconstruction in scattering turbid media

Abstract

A method for imaging objects in a highly scattering turbid medium, such as breast, brain, prostate in human body and clouds, smoke in atmosphere environment, using backscattered light. The method involves using a group of sources and detectors setting on same side of medium to generate a plurality of time-resolved intensity data of backscattered light from the medium. The inverse computation using a reconstruction algorithm, taking the measured data as input, produces a three-dimensional image map of the internal structure of a turbid medium. The invention teaches (1) developing an accurate analytical solution of the Boltzmann photon transport equation in a uniform infinite medium, and its extension to the case of a semi-infinite medium, which serves as a background Green's function for the forward model; (2) building a forward physical model of relationship between measurement of backscattered light and inhomogeneity structure of the medium; (3) designing an inverse algorithm for backscattering tomography; (4) designing experimental setups for breast tumor detection using backscattering tomography; (5) using fsec, psec, and nsec laser pulse with different wavelengths in the near infrared spectral region; and (6) using pico-second time gating system as detectors to collect time-slicing data.

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