Optimal probe design for breast imaging using near-infrared diffused light

Shallow lesions less than 1.5-cm deep are frequently seen in breast patients when they are scanned in reflection geometry. Two boundary conditions are compared for imaging shallow lesions, and a new probe design is introduced. A partial reflection boundary condition is suitable for imaging shallow lesions less than 1.0-cm deep; whereas an absorption boundary condition is desirable for imaging lesions more than 1.5-cm deep. Our new probe design incorporates either a partial reflection boundary or an absorption boundary based on a priori knowledge of lesion depth provided by coregistered real-time ultrasound images. An angled source is introduced to further improve the illumination of the region between 1.0- to 1.5-cm depths. Simulation, phantom, and freshly excised mouse tumor experiments demonstrate that targets located at different depths can be uniformly reconstructed. A clinical example is given to demonstrate the utility of this new approach for optimally probing lesions located at different depths.