Monte Carlo simulations of coherent backscatter for identification of the optical coefficients of biological tissues in vivo

Abstract

A Monte Carlo model of light backscattered from turbid media has been used to simulate the effects of weak localization in biological tissues. A validation technique is used that implies that for the scatteringand absorption coefficients and for refractive index mismatches found in tissues, the Monte Carlo method is likely to provide more accurate results than the methods previously used. The model also has theability to simulate the effects of various illumination profiles and other laboratory-imposed conditions. A curve-fitting routine has been developed that might be used to extract the optical coefficients from theangular intensity profiles seen in experiments on turbid biological tissues, data that could be obtained in vivo.