On the Emission Intensity of Fluorescent Microspheres in Cardiac Tissue Images

Formulations for the total fluorescence intensity of fluorescent microspheres in slabs of cardiac tissue were determined experimentally and theoretically. The tissue depth, at which the slab can be considered as a semi-infinite turbid medium, and critical layer thickness, which accounts for the most emission intensity were evaluated to be 8–9 and 3–5 mm, respectively, for the cardiac tissue. When fluorescent microspheres are linearly distributed across the slab depth, the mean absorption of them is proportional to the sum of their normalized total emissions in the slab excited from both sides. The formulations may be used for the fluorescence images analysis of cardiac and other biological tissues.     

Influence of Turbid Medium Parameters on Back Scattered Intensity and Pulsewidth of Picosecond Pulse

In this paper, we simulate a practical in vivo technique in which is produced influence of turbid medium parameters on backscattered intensity and pulsewidth of picosecond for turbid tissue surface of a semiinfinite medium by a small narrow linewidth laser beams. It is shown that the interaction of the ultra short pulse and the turbid tissue is very used as researching the optical parameters of the turbid medium.     

Comparison of noncontact and fiber-based fluorescence-mediated tomography

We present a comparative experimental phantom study of fiber-based and noncontact fluorescence tomography with respect to quantitation and localization of reconstructed fluorescent inclusions in turbid media such as tissue. Noncontact acquisition is usually considered potentially superior to fiber-based techniques because of the availability of a large number of detector readouts through a CCD. Our results indicate, however, that noncontact acquisition itself might improve the quality of reconstructions significantly, even without increasing the number of detectors and thus keeping the inverse problem moderately complex.     

Determination of the depth-resolved Stokes parameters of light backscattered from turbid media by use of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) was used to characterize completely the polarization state of light backscattered from turbid media. Using a low-coherence light source, one can determine the Stokes parameters of backscattered light as a function of optical path in turbid media. To demonstrate the application of this technique we determined the birefringence and the optical axis in fibrous tissue (rodent muscle) and in vivo rodent skin. PS-OCT has potentially useful applications in biomedical optics by imaging simultaneously the structural properties of turbid biological materials and their effects on the polarization state of backscattered light. This method may also find applications in material science for investigation of polarization properties (e.g., birefringence) in opaque media such as ceramics and crystals.     

Simple time-domain optical method for estimating the depth and concentration of a fluorescent inclusion in a turbid medium

A simple time-domain optical method for estimating the depth and concentration of fluorescent inclusions in turbid media is described. We demonstrate direct depth estimation of a localized fluorescent object from the temporal position of the temporal point-spread function maximum. The depth estimation permits recovery of the fluorophore concentration, both of which are essential quantities for optical molecular imaging studies. Since the maximum is independent of the fluorophore concentration, excitation laser power, detector gain, and other system-dependent factors, this method ensures a robust and efficient approach.     

平稳状态下匹配介质三层漫射方程的空间分辨漫反射

如果应用漫射方程分析和确定生物表面组织的光学特性,就能够确定生物活体是否发生病变,实现生物活体的无损探测。目前,光在生物体内传播常用的基本模型是半无限厚模型和两层介质模型。而实际上,人体组织为多层介质。根据漫射方程理论,在平稳状态条件下,使用外推边界条件,精确给出了匹配介质中平稳状态下三层体系光的漫射方程格林函数的解。通过此解,可以算出空间分辨漫反射。使用蒙特卡罗方法来验证三层体系的漫射方程,发现我们给出的理论解,不仅可以包括与Kienle的结论一致的两层体系模型的空间分辨漫反射的解,而且三层体系漫射方程的空间分辨漫反射解和蒙特卡罗方法基本一致。     

A three-dimensional finite elements approach for the coupled radiative transfer equation and diffusion approximation modeling in fluorescence imaging

During the last few years a quite large number of fluorescence molecular imaging applications have been reported in the literature, as one of the most challenging aspects in medical imaging is to “see” a tumor embedded into tissue, which is a turbid medium, by using fluorescent probes for tumor labeling. However, the forward solvers, required for the successful convergence of the inverse problem, are still lacking accuracy and time feasibility. Moreover, initialization of these solvers may be proven even more difficult than solving the inverse problem itself. This paper describes in depth a coupled radiative transfer equation and diffusion approximation model for solving the forward problem in fluorescence imaging. The theoretical confrontation of these solvers comprises the model deployment, its Galerkin finite elements approximation and the domain discretization scheme. Finally, a new optical properties mapping algorithm, based on super-ellipsoid models, is implemented, providing a fully automated simulation target construction within feasible time.     

Estimating the depth and lifetime of a fluorescent inclusion in a turbid medium using a simple time-domain optical method

A simple time-domain optical method for estimating the depth (d) and lifetime (tau) of fluorescent inclusions in a turbid medium is described. We demonstrate the method for depth and lifetime estimation of a fluorescent inclusion directly by fitting a monoexponential decay (tau(eff)) of the temporal position of the temporal point-spread function and the measurement of its maximum temporal position (t(max)). Since both of these measurements are intensity independent, this method provides a robust and efficient approach. This method is validated with experimental data.     

Three-dimensional location of fluorescent inhomogeneities in turbid media by scanning heterodyne holography

We describe and illustrate experimentally a method aimed at the three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of fluorescent inhomogeneities embedded in a turbid medium. The method utilizes incoherent scanning holography to capture 3-D information in a single two-dimensional scan and phase-sensitive heterodyne detection to reject multiply scattered light and to produce a single-sideband holographic record. The 3-D imaging capability of the method is illustrated by an example.     

A CTRW-based model of time-resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging in a turbid medium

We develop an analytic model of time-resolved fluorescent imaging of photons migrating through a semi-infinite turbid medium bounded by an infinite plane in the presence of a single stationary point fluorophore embedded in the medium. In contrast to earlier models of fluorescent imaging in which photon motion is assumed to be some form of continuous diffusion process, the present analysis is based on a continuous-time random walk (CTRW) on a simple cubic lattice, the objective being to estimate the position and lifetime of the fluorophore. This can provide information related to local variations in pH and temperature with potential medical significance. Aspects of the theory were tested using time-resolved measurements of the fluorescence from small inclusions inside tissue-like phantoms. The experimental results were found to be in good agreement with theoretical predictions provided that the fluorophore was not located too close to the planar boundary, a common problem in many diffusive systems.     

Time-resolved backscattering of circularly and linearly polarized light in a turbid medium

Time-resolved backscattering profiles of circularly and linearly polarized light were measured from a turbid medium composed of small and large polystyrene sphere particles in water. It is shown that, based on the measurements of the time-resolved backscattered copolarized and cross-polarized components of the incident polarized light, either linearly or circularly polarized light can be used to effectively image an object that is deep inside a turbid medium composed of small particles, depending on the depolarization properties of the object itself. For large particles such as in tissue, fog, and clouds, the experimentally observed polarization memory effect on the backscattering temporal profiles suggests that a significant improvement in the image contrast can be achieved by use of circularly polarized light.     

Fluorescence-lifetime-based tomography for turbid media

We derive a novel algorithm to recover the in vivo distributions of fluorophores based on an asymptotic life-time analysis of time-domain fluorescence measurements with turbid tissue. We experimentally demonstrate the advantage offered by this method in localizing fluorophores with distinct lifetimes. This algorithm has wide applicability for diagnostic fluorescence imaging in the presence of several-centimeter-thick biological tissue, since fluorescence lifetime is a sensitive indicator of local tissue environment and interactions at the molecular level.     

The Steady-State Spatially Resolved Reflectance of a Three-Layered Mismatched Medium

Near-IR radiation is often utilized to detect the properties in tissues, up to now, a semi-infinite medium photon migration model and a two-layered turbid medium model are applied widely. In this paper, we set up the steady-state photon diffusion model of three-layered mismatched medium. We utilize the diffuse equation to solve a three-layered mismatched medium and obtain the accurate solution of a three-layered mismatched medium of the steady state in tissue. We find that the solution of a three-layered mismatched medium diffusion equation not only accord with the Monte-Carlo simulation, but can still solve the problems of a two-layered turbid medium model.     

聚焦光束在半无限大生物组织内传播的Monte Carlo模拟

分析了聚焦光束在介质中的传播情况,利用VC++语言编制了一套平圆光束聚焦在半无限大生物组织内传播的Monte Carlo模拟程序,对几种不同参数值的情况进行了模拟,通过对模拟结果的分析,得出了平圆光束聚焦在半无限大生物组织内传播的规律。     

多光子成象术中深层图象损耗恢复的研究

本文在分析混浊介质对共焦三维扫描图象衰减的基础上,建立了多光子激发荧光扫描的深层图象恢复的数学模型.依照此模型对深层图象进行依赖组织光学参量的恢复,并给出了猪表皮三维扫描成象的恢复图象.     

Application of time-gated CCD camera with image intensifier in contactless detection of absorbing inclusions buried in optically turbid medium which mimics local changes in oxygenation of the brain tissue

The near infrared spectroscopy may be implemented using various optoelectronic techniques, however, most of them do not allow to carry out measurements at short source-detector separation. We propose a method, based on time-gated intensified CCD camera, which allows for contactless measurements and can be carried out at short source-detector separation. This technique was tested on a phantom with absorbing inclusions buried in an optically turbid medium which mimics local changes in oxygenation of the brain tissue.     

Influence of the order of the constituent basis matrices on the Mueller matrix decomposition-derived polarization parameters in complex turbid media such as biological tissues

The influence of the multiplication order of the constituent basis matrices on the Mueller matrix decomposition-derived polarization parameters in complex tissue-like turbid media exhibiting simultaneous scattering and polarization effects are investigated. A polarization sensitive Monte Carlo (MC) simulation model was used to generate Mueller matrices from turbid media exhibiting simultaneous linear birefringence, optical activity and multiple scattering effects. Mueller matrix decomposition was performed with different selected multiplication orders of the constituent basis matrices, which were further analyzed to derive quantitative individual polarization medium properties. The results show that for turbid medium having weak diattenuation (differential attenuation of two orthogonal polarization states), the decomposition-derived polarization parameters are independent of the multiplication order. Importantly, the values for the extracted polarization parameters were found to be in excellent agreement with the controlled inputs, showing self-consistency in inverse decomposition analysis and successful decoupling of the individual polarization effects. These results were corroborated further by selected experimental results from phantoms having optical (scattering and polarization) properties similar to those used in the MC model. Results from tissue polarimetry confirm that the magnitude of diattenuation is generally lower compared to other polarization effects, so that the demonstrated self-consistency of the decomposition formalism with respect to the potential ambiguity of ordering of the constituent matrices should hold in biological applications.     

Turbidity-free fluorescence spectroscopy of biological tissue

We present a method based on photon migration of extracting intrinsic fluorescence spectra from turbid media, using concomitantly measured fluorescence and reflectance. Intrinsic fluorescence is defined as fluorescence that is due only to fluorophores, without interference from the absorbers and scatterers that are present. Application to fluorescence spectra taken with tissue phantoms and human mucosal tissues demonstrates excellent agreement in both spectral line shape and intensity between the extracted and the directly measured intrinsic fluorescence spectra.     

Polarization preservation in diffusive scattering from in vivo turbid biological media: effects of tissue optical absorption in the exact backscattering direction

There is considerable recent interest in using polarized light to investigate turbid biological media. Although tissue multiple scattering randomizes incident polarization states, there are circumstances when appreciable degree of polarization can be observed in diffusive scattering. In this study, we use polarization modulation and synchronous detection to examine in the exact backscattering direction the polarization properties of diffusely reflected visible light from hands of human volunteers of varying pigmentation levels. The surviving polarization fraction increases with increasing pigmentation, likely due to preferential loss of highly scattered, long-pathlength photons; this mechanism lowers the average pathlength traversed by the detected light and hence increases the measured polarization preservation. This behavior is contrasted with the overall diffuse reflectance intensity, whose magnitude decreases with increasing absorption. These experiments demonstrate the important influences of medium optical properties on the polarization characteristics of multiply scattered light, which must be further investigated to enable quantitative polarization evaluation of turbid media such as biological tissues.