Endoscopic, rapid near-infrared optical tomography

This is believed to be the first demonstration of near-infrared (NIR) optical tomography employed at the endoscope scale and at a rapid sampling speed that allows translation to in vivo use. A spread-spectral-encoding technique based on a broadband light source and linear-to-circular fiber bundling was used to provide endoscopic probing of many source-detector fibers for tomography as well as parallel sampling of all source-detector pairs for rapid imaging. Endoscopic NIR tomography at an 8 Hz frame rate was achieved in phantoms and tissue specimens with a 12 mm probe housing eight sources and eight detectors. This novel approach provides the key feasibility studies to allow this blood-based contrast imaging technology to be attempted in detection of cancer in internal organs via endoscopic interrogation.     

视觉测量中轴向热干扰成像问题研究

为研究热源干扰图像成像引发的图像畸变、模糊等失真问题,利用图像的特征点平均畸变位移、峰值信噪比、均方误差和互相关系数来评价热源轴向位移条件下成像图像的畸变程度、模糊程度以及总相似程度,得到热干扰成像变化与热源轴向位置之间的规律。实验表明,当热源在成像系统和成像目标之间作轴向运动时,其距离成像系统越近,成像的畸变程度、模糊程度以及失真程度越大,在D=300 mm处最大平均畸变位移达2.765 3 mm;当热源靠近成像目标时,成像图像的畸变程度、模糊程度以及失真程度降低,在D=0 mm处平均畸变位移减小至0.810 2 mm。     

In vivo NMR of hyperpolarized 3He in the human lung at very low magnetic fields

We present NMR measurements of the diffusion of hyperpolarized 3He in the human lung performed at fields much lower than those of conventional MRI scanners. The measurements were made on standing subjects using homebuilt apparatus operating at 3mT. O(2)-limited transverse relaxation (T(2) up to 15-35s) could be measured in vivo. Accurate global diffusion measurements have been performed in vivo and in a plastic bag; the average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in vivo was 14.2+/-0.6mm(2)/s, whereas the diffusion coefficient in the bag (3He diluted in N(2)) was 79.5+/-1mm(2)/s. 1D ADC mapping with high SNR ( approximately 200-300) demonstrates the real possibility of performing quality lung imaging at extremely low fields.     

Membrane gas diffusion measurements with MRI

Gas transport across polymeric membranes is fundamental to many filtering and separation technologies. To elucidate transport mechanisms, and understand the behaviors of membrane materials, accurate measurement of transport properties is required. We report a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methodology to measure membrane gas phase diffusion coefficients. The MRI challenges of low spin density and short gas phase relaxation times, especially for hydrogen gas, have been successfully overcome with a modified one-dimensional, single-point ramped imaging with T(1) enhancement, measurement. We have measured the diffusion coefficients of both hydrogen gas and sulfur-hexafluoride in a model polymeric membrane of potential interest as a gas separator in metal hydride batteries. The experimental apparatus is a modified one-dimensional diaphragm cell which permits measurement of the diffusion coefficient in experimental times of less than 1 min. The H(2) gas diffusion coefficient in the membrane was 0.54 +/- 0.01 mm(2)/s, while that of sulfur-hexafluoride was 0.14 +/- 0.01 mm(2)/s, at ambient conditions.     

超声虚源成像中自适应双向空间逐点聚焦方法

针对传统超声成像中图像分辨率和对比度随深度下降的问题,提出了一种基于虚源的自适应双向空间逐点聚焦超声成像方法。首先,使用超声换能器线列阵分子孔径分别定焦点发射和接收超声波,采集扫描线数据;然后将焦点视为虚拟点声源,计算虚源到空间成像点的延时,利用合成孔径原理再次进行空间逐点聚焦;在合成过程中采用相干系数进行自适应加权。采用空间脉冲响应法对不同深度的点目标和囊目标仿真成像,从而量化分辨率和对比度。在F数为1.5、焦距为10 mm时(对应子孔径阵元数为17)可以获得与64通道定焦点发射、动态聚焦接收相当的图像质量且在所有深度上保持一致。实际硬件平台的体模成像实验进一步验证了方法的有效性。该方法可在整个成像深度范围内保持和常规成像一致的分辨率和对比度,从而获得更优的整体成像效果。      

Pulse inversion ultrasound modulated optical tomography

Pulse inversion acoustic imaging is useful as it allows second harmonic imaging to be obtained with short acoustic pulses. This allows high axial resolution, but removes any overlap in the frequency spectra of fundamental and harmonic. We demonstrate pulse inversion ultrasound modulated optical tomography using an optical speckle based detection method. Inverted and non-inverted acoustic pulses combined with synchronized strobed illumination are applied to an optically scattering medium. Over the acquisition time of a camera, multiple pulses are summed and at the next frame the phase of the ultrasound is shifted by π/2 and the process repeated. Combining the two frames allows a second harmonic signal to be obtained. A reduction in linewidth is observed (DC=9.26 mm, fundamental=4.02 mm, second harmonic=2.43 mm) in line scans of optically absorbing objects embedded in a scattering medium (thickness=16 mm, scattering coefficient=2.3 mm(-1), anisotropy factor=0.938).     

Pulsed near-infrared laser diode excitation system for biomedical photoacoustic imaging

A pulsed laser diode system operating at 905 nm has been developed for the generation of photoacoustic signals in tissue. It was evaluated by measuring the photoacoustic waveforms generated in a blood vessel phantom comprising three dye-filled (mu(a)=1 mm(-1)) tubes of diameters 120-580 microm immersed to a maximum depth of 9 mm in a turbid liquid (mu'(s)=1 mm(-1)). The system was then combined with a cylindrical scanning system to obtain two-dimensional images of a tissue phantom. The signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signals in both cases and the image contrast in the latter suggest that such a system could provide a compact and inexpensive alternative to current excitation sources for superficial imaging applications.     

Differentiation of recurrent brain tumor versus radiation injury using diffusion tensor imaging in patients with new contrast-enhancing lesions

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the evaluation of new contrast-enhancing lesions and perilesional edema in patients previously treated for brain neoplasm in the differentiation of recurrent neoplasm from treatment-related injury. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with new contrast-enhancing lesions and perilesional edema at the site of previously treated brain neoplasms were retrospectively reviewed. Nine directional echoplanar DTIs with b=1000 s/mm(2) were obtained using a single-shot spin-echo echoplanar imaging. Standardized regions of interest were manually drawn in several regions. Mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA) and eigenvalue indices (lambda( parallel) and lambda( perpendicular)) and their ratios relative to the contralateral side were compared in patients with recurrent neoplasm versus patients with radiation injury, as established by histological examination or by clinical course, including long-term imaging studies and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: The ADC values in the contrast-enhancing lesions were significantly higher (P=.01) for the recurrence group (range=1.01 x 10(-3) to 1.66 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s; mean+/-S.D.=1.27+/-0.15) than for the nonrecurrence group (range=0.9 x 10(-3) to 1.31 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s; mean+/-S.D.=1.12+/-0.14). The ADC ratios in the white matter tracts in perilesional edema trended higher (P=.09) in treatment-related injury than in recurrent neoplasm (mean+/-S.D.=1.85+/-0.30 vs. 1.60+/-0.27, respectively). FA ratios were significantly higher in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) tracts adjacent to the edema in the nonrecurrence group (mean+/-S.D.=0.89+/-0.15) than in those in the recurrence group (mean+/-S.D.=0.74+/-0.14; P=.03). Both eigenvalue indices lambda( parallel) and lambda( perpendicular) were significantly higher in contrast-enhancing lesions in the recurrence group than in those in the nonrecurrence group (P=.02). As well, both eigenvalue indices lambda( parallel) and lambda( perpendicular) were significantly higher in perilesional edema than in normal white matter (P<.01 and P<.001, respectively) in both groups. CONCLUSION: The assessment of diffusion properties, especially ADC values and ADC ratios, in contrast-enhancing lesions, perilesional edema and NAWM adjacent to the edema in the follow-up of new contrast-enhancing lesions at the site of previously treated brain neoplasms may add to the information obtained by other imaging techniques in the differentiation of radiation injury from tumor recurrence.     

Independent component analysis in the presence of noise in fMRI

A noisy version of independent component analysis (noisy ICA) is applied to simulated and real functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. The noise covariance is explicitly modeled by an autoregressive (AR) model of order 1. The unmixing matrix of the data is determined using a variant of the FastICA algorithm based on Gaussian moments. The sources are estimated using the principle of maximum likelihood by modeling the source densities as asymmetric exponential functions. Effect of dimensionality reduction on the effective noise covariance used, accuracy of the obtained mixing matrix and degree of improvement in estimating fMRI sources are investigated. The primary conclusions after using this method of evaluation are as follows: (a) weighting matrix estimates are similar for noisy and conventional ICA in the realm of typical fMRI data, and (b) source estimates are improved by 5% (as measured by the correlation coefficient) in realistic simulated data by explicitly modeling the source densities and the noise, even when just a simple white noise model is used.     

The spatial variation of dose-rate from 90Sr/90Y beta sources for use in luminescence dating

The spatial variation of dose-rate from a 1850 MBq (50 mCi) ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y Amersham International SIF type ceramic-substrate beta particle source (5 mm diameter active area) was measured and compared with that from a 1480 MBq (40 mCi) ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y Amersham International SIP type silver plaque type beta particle source (12 mm diameter active area), for a variety of source–target spacings. The radiation field intensities were mapped using the intensity of radioluminescence induced in a probe comprising an ≅1 mm diameter calcium fluoride grain attached to the end of a glass fibre optic cable, and detected by a photomultiplier. Both sources were found to have radially symmetric dose distributions with no significant local irregularities, and dose-rate radial profiles indistinguishable at the closest source–probe spacing used (15 mm). At the largest source–probe spacing, 25 mm, the ceramic-substrate source exhibited slightly lower centre-periphery dose-rate decrease.Further measurements, using in addition a 3700 MBq (100 mCi) ceramic-substrate source, found an apparently lower dose-rate/MBq from the ceramic-substrate sources than from the silver plaque. This somewhat negates the practical benefits arising from the increased source activity permissible on radiation safety grounds for ceramic-substrate sources for a given shielding configuration, as although a given shielding configuration can house a ceramic-substrate source delivering a greater dose-rate than can safely be achieved from a silver plaque source, a considerably higher source activity is required to do so.It was concluded that the overall suitability of both types of sources for luminescence applications differs little in that both are suitable, and the choice between types is best governed by case-to-case considerations, such as practical constraints on shielding.     

双通道红外准直投影光学系统设计

介绍了一种双通道准直投影光学系统的设计。重点讨论了光学系统参数的分配以及利用Zemax光学设计软件多重结构功能进行优化的方法, 并利用蒙特卡罗分析对系统的公差进行了分析。光学系统采用望远系统和成像系统组合，在望远系统和成像系统之间的平行光路中插入分束镜引入第2个目标源通道。光学系统工作波段8 μm~12 μm, 视场12°，焦距228.3 mm，入瞳距800 mm，目标通道1和目标通道2的最大角分辨率分别为0.18 mrad和0.17 mrad，满足了投影系统的设计要求。     

浑浊介质中图像对比度与成像方式的关系

浑浊介质中图像对比度的物理增强方法一直是研究热点, 目前学者们提出的距离选通成像、偏振差分成像和偏振距离选通成像均能提高图像的对比度, 但提高效果与成像距离的关系尚不明确. 本文分别利用以上三种成像方式及普通强度成像对处于不同浓度浑浊介质中的目标进行成像, 研究了图像强度和对比度随成像距离的变化情况. 结果表明: 从滤除的散射光强来看, 偏振距离选通成像最优, 而偏振差分成像在成像距离较远时优于距离选通成像; 三种成像方式滤除的散射光强值趋于稳定的阈值距离各不相同; 对比度改变相同量时, 偏振距离选通成像对应成像距离的变化量最大, 偏振差分成像次之, 强度成像最小, 且均与散射系数成反比. 本文对浑浊介质成像效果及机理的分析, 对进一步提高浑浊介质中目标的分辨及识别具有重要意义.     

小波变换在太赫兹三维成像探测内部缺陷中的应用

采用Syn View Head 300对内部有胶和空气孔的样件进行了太赫兹二维扫描(xy轴方向),系统通过线性调频连续波技术得到样件内部的三维信息.检测薄层时,由于太赫兹源的波长在亚毫米量级,薄层的上下表面反射峰相距太近而难以辨别.为了提高太赫兹探测的纵向分辨率,采用小波变换对探测信号进行处理,对小波系数进行三维重构,获得的三维小波系数图像比原始三维探测信号更加精确.该方法有效提高了太赫兹成像的纵向检测精度,纵向分辨率可达1 mm.     

体布拉格光栅滤波片及其光谱成像应用

利用厚体布拉格光栅的波长选择特性对目标光场进行窄带滤波,是实现高光谱成像的一种新途径。基于严格耦合波理论,设计了体布拉格光栅结构,探索了厚体布拉格光栅的制作工艺,搭建系统光路验证了体布拉格光栅的光谱成像能力。研究结果表明:要获得较窄滤波谱宽,需要提高体布拉格光栅的厚度周期比,并严格控制入射光束发散角;刻写光束质量、震动和偏振会极大地影响制作的光栅条纹面质量,需要从优化写入光的光束均匀性、采用防震措施以及调整两刻写光束偏振一致性等方面优化刻写过程,以提高光栅的衍射效率和质量;验证了体布拉格光栅滤波片进行空间二维面阵成像的能力,宽谱光源透射条件下,通过对入射光束进行准直,滤波谱宽5 nm左右,空间分辨率约4 lines/mm;漫反射条件下,使用体布拉格光栅对进行色散补偿,能够实现较为清晰的成像,空间分辨率约4.9 lines/mm。     

Reduced order modeling of head related impulse responses for virtual acoustic displays

This study investigated the use of reduced order head related impulse response (HRIR) models to improve the computational efficiency in acoustic virtual displays. State space models of varying order were generated from zero-elevation HRIRs using a singular value decomposition technique. A source identification experiment was conducted under anechoic conditions in which three subjects were required to localize sounds in the front horizontal plane. The sounds were either (1) real sources (emitted by individual loudspeakers in a semi-circular array), (2) virtual sources generated from the original HRIRs, or (3) virtual sources generated using reduced order state space models. All virtual sources were created by simultaneous activation of two loudspeakers at +/- 30 degrees using a virtual source imaging technique based on either the measured or modeled HRIRs. The errors in the perceived direction of the virtual sources generated from the reduced order models were compared to errors in localization using the original HRIRs. The results demonstrate that a very significant reduction in model size can be achieved without significantly affecting the fidelity of the virtual display of horizontally placed sources.     

Demonstration of a Ni-like Kr optical-field-ionization collisional soft x-ray laser at 32.8 nm

We report the first experimental demonstration of a Ni-like optical-field ionization collisional soft x-ray laser. The amplifying medium is generated by focusing a circularly polarized 760 mJ, 30 fs, 10-Hz Ti:sapphire laser beam in a few mm cell filled with krypton. We have measured a gain coefficient of 78 cm(-1) on the 3d(9)4d 1S0-3d(9)4p(1)P1 transition at 32.8 nm, which is here amplified for the first time. This radiation source represents the shortest wavelength optical-field ionization collisional soft x-ray laser ever produced. The influence of the gas pressure and the pumping energy on the lasing output are also presented.     

Range formulation for a staring electro-optical and imaging system incorporating the effects of atmospheric transmission, focal plane 1/f noise and fixed pattern noise

To increase the detection range in staring FPAs, commonly the integration time T_i is increased, as the range is assumed to increase as one-fourth power of T_i, (T_i^1/4). It is shown here that the range dependence on T_i is weaker than T_i^1/4, because of the effect of atmosphere. Since the atmospheric transmission coefficient decreases with increasing range, the effect of increasing T_i on the range is considerably reduced. It is also shown that when detector 1/f noise dominates over other noise sources, the dependence of range on T_i is much weaker than T_i^1/4, having a logarithmic dependence Calculations have been done by integrating equations involving spectral functions—photon flux, atmospheric transmission coefficient, optics transmission coefficient and responsivity—over wavelength, in the spectral range from 8 μm to 12 μm. LOWTRAN2 has been used for spectral atmospheric transmission coefficients, for different conditions of ambient temperature (−30°C to 55°C) and relative humidity (50–85%). The range formulation also distinguishes between distant targets (point sources) and nearby targets (extended sources). The analysis is applicable for terrestrial imaging, where the temperature difference of the target and the background is small. The effect of fixed pattern noise (FPN) in mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) FPAs has also been considered by modeling FPN in terms of a composition variation in the MCT. It is seen that range, both in the point source and the extended source cases, is not a sensitive function of FPN.     

平行束缪子透射成像蒙特卡罗模拟

使用蒙特卡罗程序Geant4,模拟平行束缪子垂直于理想探测器平面入射法国试验客体（FTO）模型,在模型的上方和下方各放置三块理想探测器,用以输出缪子位置信息,从而确定入射与出射缪子径迹。通过三种方法统计缪子穿过模型前后的透射比,对模型进行透射成像,得到不同的成像结果。统计方法一和方法二分辨力可达2 mm2 mm,统计方法三可达1 mm1 mm,Cu与W区分较为明显,而且可显示出FTO模型中心的空气球,FTO模型与模型周围空气的边界十分清晰。模拟结果表明,平行束入射缪子可以进行透射成像。     

大孔径空间外差干涉光谱成像技术多谱段成像仿真

在大孔径空间外差干涉光谱成像技术（LASHIS）的基础上提出了一种多谱段成像方案.其采用LASHIS的外差探测原理,一方面,可通过较少的采样点数实现很高的光谱分辨率,保留了LASHIS的高光谱分辨率、高稳定性和高探测灵敏度的特点;另一方面,利用光栅的多级衍射性质,实现同一系统的多谱段同时探测,拓宽了光谱探测范围.首先,阐述了LASHIS多谱段成像方案的基本原理;然后,分析了多谱段探测与谱段解混方式;最后,对该方案进行了计算机仿真模拟,通过ZEMAX光线追迹的干涉图结果与理论计算结果相符合,验证了方案的正确性.基于LASHIS的多谱段成像方案所具有的高光谱分辨率、高探测灵敏度以及可实现同一系统的多谱段同时探测特点,尤其适合温室气体等高稳定性、高探测灵敏度的多谱段高光谱探测应用.     

折/衍混合LWIR凝视成像系统的杂散光分析

本文对一折/衍混合长波红外(LWIR)凝视成像系统进行了杂散光分析,在此LWIR系统中,含有一个用金刚石车削技术制作的衍射光学元件(DOE)。本文中,对DOE的不同衍射级次、光学表面的多次反射、镜筒内壁的反射等主要杂散光源利用LightTools软件进行了分析,对6种二次反射的模拟结果表明,对归一化的光源,理想光路的像面辐照度为100 W/mm2,每种二次反射会给像面带来0.01W/mm2的辐照度;对于反射率为10％的镜筒内壁,带来的像面辐照为0.01W/mm2。并利用该LWIR凝视成像光学系统进行了相关实验,实验结果证明了上述分析的正确性,有利于对LWIR凝视成像系统光学性能的进一步理解和杂散光的抑制。