Multi Simulation Platform for Time Domain Diffuse Optical Tomography: An Application to a Compact Hand-Held Reflectance Probe

Edoardo Ferocino,Paola Taroni,Simon Arridge,Antonio Pifferi,Fabrizio Martelli,Andrea Farina

doi:10.3390/app9142849

Abstract

Time Domain Diffuse Optical Tomography (TD-DOT) enables a full 3D reconstruction of the optical properties of tissue, and could be used for non-invasive and cost-effective in-depth body exploration (e.g., thyroid and breast imaging). Performance quantification is crucial for comparing results coming from different implementations of this technique. A general-purpose simulation platform for TD-DOT clinical systems was developed with a focus on performance assessment through meaningful figures of merit. The platform was employed for assessing the feasibility and characterizing a compact hand-held probe for breast imaging and characterization in reflectance geometry. Important parameters such as hardware gating of the detector, photon count rate and inclusion position were investigated. Results indicate a reduced error (<10%) on the absorption coefficient quantification of a simulated inclusion up to 2-cm depth if a photon count rate ≥ 106 counts per second is used along with a good localization (error < 1 mm down to 25 mm-depth).

Highlights

Medical imaging often employs tomography as an effective tool to help detecting and characterizing both pathological and physiological conditions in tissues
Performing optical measurements with a set of properly arranged sources and detectors enables a full 3D reconstruction of the optical properties that correlate with the nature of imaged tissue. Such an approach is known as Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT), because light propagation follows a quasi-diffusion like model when working in the NIR on large tissue volumes
The rest of this paper is organized as follows: In Section 2 we present the architecture of the developed multipurpose simulation platform, followed by a detailed discussion about the specific kernel for time domain breast tomography, with problem specifications

Summary

Introduction

Medical imaging often employs tomography as an effective tool to help detecting and characterizing both pathological and physiological conditions in tissues. Performing optical measurements with a set of properly arranged sources and detectors enables a full 3D reconstruction of the optical properties that correlate with the nature of imaged tissue. Such an approach is known as Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT), because light propagation follows a quasi-diffusion like model when working in the NIR on large (cm3 ) tissue volumes (e.g., for clinical applications). Other approaches involve the detection of the diffused fluorescence signal (Fluorescence DOT) emitted by a specific fluorescent marker after being injected into the tissue [1]

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Methods

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Conclusion