Time domain diffuse correlation spectroscopy with a high coherence pulsed source: in vivo and phantom results

Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), combined with time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy (TRS) or frequency domain spectroscopy, aims at path length (i.e. depth) resolved, non-invasive and simultaneous assessment of tissue composition and blood flow. However, while TRS provides a path length resolved data, the standard DCS does not. Recently, a time domain DCS experiment showed path length resolved measurements for improved quantification with respect to classical DCS, but was limited to phantoms and small animal studies. Here, we demonstrate time domain DCS for in vivo studies on the adult forehead and the arm. We achieve path length resolved DCS by means of an actively mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser that allows high coherence pulses, thus enabling adequate signal-to-noise ratio in relatively fast (~1 s) temporal resolution. This work paves the way to the translation of this approach to practical in vivo use.