Abstract
We present the experimental implementation and validation of a phantom for diffuse optical imaging based on totally absorbing objects for which, in the previous paper [J. Biomed. Opt.18(6), 066014, (2013)], we have provided the basic theory. Totally absorbing objects have been manufactured as black polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinders and the phantom is a water dilution of intralipid-20% as the diffusive medium and India ink as the absorber, filled into a black scattering cell made of PVC. By means of time-domain measurements and of Monte Carlo simulations, we have shown the reliability, the accuracy, and the robustness of such a phantom in mimicking typical absorbing perturbations of diffuse optical imaging. In particular, we show that such a phantom can be used to generate any absorption perturbation by changing the volume and position of the totally absorbing inclusion.
Highlights
In this paper, we present the experimental implementation for a concept for the construction of inhomogeneous phantoms for imaging in diffuse media based on totally absorbing objects that was proposed in the previous companion paper.[1]
Absorbing objects have been manufactured as black polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinders and the phantom is a water dilution of intralipid-20% as the diffusive medium and India ink as the absorber, filled into a black scattering cell made of PVC
The validation of the proposed inhomogeneous phantom was obtained by a comparison between time domain experimental results of absorption perturbations measured from the phantom and the results of the Monte Carlo (MC) simulations
Summary
We present the experimental implementation for a concept for the construction of inhomogeneous phantoms for imaging in diffuse media based on totally absorbing objects that was proposed in the previous companion paper.[1] This work stems from the outcome of a large collaboration among seven institutions from four countries within the framework of the European nEUROPt Project that put great emphasis on standardization approaches to assess the performance of noninvasive optical brain imagers. Concerning homogeneous phantoms, the status is quite advanced, with many tested options,[17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24] off-the-shelf solid phantoms with well characterized and documented optical properties,[25] and good agreement in liquid phantoms’ characterization in multilaboratory studies.[26] the situation of inhomogeneous phantoms is less consolidated due to many criticalities and large combinations of geometries and optical properties.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call