Analysis of estimation of optical properties of sub superficial structures in multi layered tissue model using distribution function method.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This paper is focused on the analysis of a method of estimation of the absorption and scattering coefficients of nonhomogeneous two layered structures in time resolved near infrared spectroscopy using method based on cumulative distributions of time of flight of photons. METHODS: The research is based on the analysis of the superposition of cumulative distributions of time of flight of photons. This approach allows for detailed analysis of small variations in characteristics of time of flight of photons caused by an electromagnetic propagation in highly scattering non-homogeneous media. The method presented, based on the variation of statistical minimum distance estimation, is compared to the method of standard curve fitting. It is analyzed by fitting the results obtained from Monte-Carlo simulations of light propagation in the turbid medium to the data from the simulated measurements. RESULTS: The analysis is carried out for a vast range of optical properties of two layered medium in reflectance geometry. CONCLUSIONS: The method allows the estimation of the optical parameters despite the noise in the measured signal, with higher accuracy and generally with smaller number of error function evaluations.

Multiwavelength time-resolved detection of fluorescence during the inflow of indocyanine green into the adult's brain.

Optical technique based on diffuse reflectance measurement combined with indocyanine green (ICG) bolus tracking is extensively tested as a method for clinical assessment of brain perfusion in adults at the bedside. Methodology of multiwavelength and time-resolved detection of fluorescence light excited in the ICG is presented and advantages of measurements at multiple wavelengths are discussed. Measurements were carried out: 1. on a physical homogeneous phantom to study the concentration dependence of the fluorescence signal, 2. on the phantom to simulate the dynamic inflow of ICG at different depths, and 3. in vivo on surface of the human head. Pattern of inflow and washout of ICG in the head of healthy volunteers after intravenous injection of the dye was observed for the first time with time-resolved instrumentation at multiple emission wavelengths. The multiwavelength detection of fluorescence signal confirms that at longer emission wavelengths, probability of reabsorption of the fluorescence light by the dye itself is reduced. Considering different light penetration depths at different wavelengths, and the pronounced reabsorption at longer wavelengths, the time-resolved multiwavelength technique may be useful in signal decomposition, leading to evaluation of extra- and intracerebral components of the measured signals.

Assessment of inflow and washout of indocyanine green in the adult human brain by monitoring of diffuse reflectance at large source-detector separation.

Recently, it was shown in measurements carried out on humans that time-resolved near-infrared reflectometry and fluorescence spectroscopy may allow for discrimination of information originating directly from the brain avoiding influence of contaminating signals related to the perfusion of extracerebral tissues. We report on continuation of these studies, showing that the near-infrared light can be detected noninvasively on the surface of the tissue at large interoptode distance. A multichannel time-resolved optical monitoring system was constructed for measurements of diffuse reflectance in optically turbid medium at very large source-detector separation up to 9 cm. The instrument was applied during intravenous injection of indocyanine green and the distributions of times of flight of photons were successfully acquired showing inflow and washout of the dye in the tissue. Time courses of the statistical moments of distributions of times of flight of photons are presented and compared to the results obtained simultaneously at shorter source-detector separations (3, 4, and 5 cm). We show in a series of experiments carried out on physical phantom and healthy volunteers that the time-resolved data acquisition in combination with very large source-detector separation may allow one to improve depth selectivity of perfusion assessment in the brain.

Time-resolved diffuse reflectance measurement carried out on the head of an adult at large source-detector separation.

Multichannel time-resolved optical monitoring system was constructed for measurements of diffuse reflectance in optically turbid medium at very large source-detector separation up to 9 cm. The system is based on femtosecond TiSa laser and sensitive photomultiplier tube detector. The laser light of 300mW of power was delivered to the surface of the head with the use of an optical fiber. A beam expander was applied in order to distribute the laser light on a large spot which allowed to avoid energetic stimulation of the tissue. The photomultiplier tube detector was positioned directly on the surface of the medium at the distance of 9cm from the center of the source position. In this paper we report results of an in-vivo experiment carried out on the head of an adult healthy volunteer. The time-resolved system was applied during intravenous injection of an optical contrast agent (indocyanine green - ICG) and the distributions of times of flight of photons were successfully acquired showing inflow and washout of the dye to the tissue. Time-courses of the moments of distributions of times of flight of photons are presented and compared with the results obtained simultaneously at shorter source-detector separations (3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm).