Time domain optical imaging device based on a commercial time-to-digital converter

Area of Science:

• Biomedical optics
• Medical imaging
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Time-domain diffuse optical imaging (TD-DOI) is a noninvasive technique for brain imaging.
• It quantifies blood volume and oxygenation by measuring photon flight times.
• Existing systems often rely on costly, customized electronics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective TD-DOI system using commercially available components.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of a modular, multi-detector imaging system.
• To enable wider application of TD-DOI in various research settings.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a low-cost time-to-digital converter and silicon photomultiplier detector.
• Assembled a system from readily available electronic components.
• Generated photon flight time histograms at 81-90 kS/s with 54 ps bin width.

Main Results:

• Successfully built and tested a functional TD-DOI system.
• Achieved high data acquisition rates suitable for imaging.
• Demonstrated the system's linearity and performance characteristics.

Conclusions:

• A cost-effective TD-DOI system is achievable using commercial off-the-shelf parts.
• This approach lowers the barrier for adopting advanced brain imaging techniques.
• The system design supports modularity for scalable, multi-detector configurations.