Highly sensitive object location in tissue models with linear in-phase and anti-phase multi-element optical arrays in...

Based upon previous observations of low-frequency photon diffusion waves within highly scattering tissue, this paper explores the "near-field" phenomena of such waves of approximately 10-cm wavelength with 200-MHz phase modulation equipment. Multiple-element source arrays consist of laser diode sources modulated at 180 degrees out of phase with respect to the other sources. The diffusing waves originating from the out-of-phase sources give, in the midplane, an amplitude null and a sharp phase transition. These may be observed in a highly scattering intralipid medium simulating the breast or brain (0.5% intralipid), 3-5 cm from the transmitting laser diodes. In the plane containing the array, there is a high sensitivity for a small volume of a hidden absorber (indocyanine green) deep within a highly scattering medium; 20 pmol in a volume of 70 microliters can be detected. Two-dimensional arrays consisting of four or more elements in two orthogonal planes give sensitivity on both axes similar to the one-dimensional array. Measurements show that in the presence of a light-absorbing object, the amplitude null and the interference plane becomes a curved surface which is deflected toward the heterogeneity. The degree of deflection is related to the volume and the absorption characteristics of the heterogeneity and provides detection of the heterogeneity, and thereby may provide localization information for the detection of small tumors within the human breast, or stroke volumes, aneurysms, and tumors in the human brain.