Fundamental Study on Near-Axis Scattered Light and Its Application to Optical Computed Tomography

Abstract

To find a basic principle of optical computed tomography (optical CT), a fundamental study was conducted on the use of scattered light in diffuse random media. We call the scattered light that propagates along the optical axis of the incident light beam near-axis scattered light (NASL). The use of NASL for the imaging through a diffuse medium was proposed and its basic characteristics were analyzed. The existence and measurability of NASL were confirmed in the simulation and measurement. To detect NASL efficiently, a technique called the scattering angle differential technique was developed. In CT imaging with a model phantom, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed technique were verified. We found that this technique alone was not sufficient to obtain the cross sectional image of an animal body, therefore a technique called the contact technique was devised to overcome the problems of reflection and refraction at the air-tissue interface. Finally, a prototype system was developed which integrated all the proposed techniques. With this system, we could obtain the CT images of a living mouse, in which the blood-rich organs such as liver and kidneys were clearly recognizable.