Camera-based CW Diffuse Optical Tomography for obtaining 3D absorption maps by means of digital tomosynthesis

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Imaging
• Photonics

Background:

• Accurate 3D absorption mapping of turbid media is crucial for biomedical applications.
• Existing methods face challenges in resolving embedded structures within scattering tissues.
• Near-infrared (NIR) spectral range offers potential for deep tissue imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel tomosynthesis method for 3D absorption mapping in tissue-like turbid slabs.
• To demonstrate the capability of reconstructing 3D absorption information of embedded inclusions.
• To optimize detector configurations for improved reconstruction accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Acquisition of transmittance data using a continuous-wave (cw) laser source and CCD camera across multiple oblique projection directions.
• Application of a perturbation model of light transport to convert intensity maps into absorption maps.
• Utilizing tomosynthesis reconstruction on absorption maps to achieve 3D imaging.
• Optimization of detector parameters using a structural similarity index (SSIM).
• Validation through Monte Carlo simulations and experimental phantom studies with breast-like optical properties.

Main Results:

• Successful 3D absorption map reconstruction of embedded inclusions in turbid phantoms.
• Demonstration of superior localization performance compared to conventional finite element methods.
• Optimization of detector configuration significantly improved reconstruction fidelity.
• Validation of the method using both simulated and experimental data.

Conclusions:

• Tomosynthesis provides a powerful new approach for 3D absorption mapping in turbid tissues.
• The method enables accurate localization of embedded structures, relevant for diagnostics.
• This technique shows promise for non-invasive imaging of subsurface tissue properties.