In vivo breast imaging with diffuse optical tomography based on higher-order diffusion equations

Improving Localization of Deep Inclusions in Time-Resolved Diffuse Optical Tomography

Time-resolved diffuse optical tomography is a technique used to recover the optical properties of an unknown diffusive medium by solving an ill-posed inverse problem. In time-domain, reconstructions based on datatypes are used for their computational efficiency. In practice, most used datatypes are temporal windows and Fourier transform. Nevertheless, neither theoretical nor numerical studies assessing different datatypes have been clearly expressed. In this paper, we propose an overview and a new process to compute efficiently a long set of temporal windows in order to perform diffuse optical tomography. We did a theoretical comparison of these large set of temporal windows. We also did simulations in a reflectance geometry with a spherical inclusion at different depths. The results are presented in terms of inclusion localization and its absorption coefficient recovery. We show that (1) the new windows computed with the developed method improve inclusion localization for inclusions at deep layers, (2) inclusion absorption quantification is improved at all depths and, (3) in some cases these windows can be equivalent to frequency based reconstruction at GHz order.

Impact of inhomogeneous optical scattering coefficient distribution on recovery of optical absorption coefficient maps using tomographic photoacoustic data

We present a study through extensive simulation that considers the impact of inhomogeneous optical scattering coefficient distribution on recovery of optical absorption coefficient maps using tomographic photoacoustic data collected from media mimicking breast tissue. We found that while the impact of scattering heterogeneities/targets is modest on photoacoustic recovery of optical absorption coefficients, the impact of scattering contrast caused by adipose tissue, a layer of normal tissue along the boundary of the breast, is dramatic on reconstruction of optical absorption coefficients using photoacoustic data-up to 25.8% relative error in recovering the absorption coefficient is estimated in such cases. To overcome this problem, we propose a new method to enhance photoacoustic recovery of the optical absorption coefficient in heterogeneous media by considering inhomogeneous scattering coefficient distribution provided by diffuse optical tomography (DOT). Results from extensive simulations show that photoacoustic recovery of absorption coefficient maps can be improved considerably with a priori scattering information from DOT.

Feasibility of U-curve method to select the regularization parameter for fluorescence diffuse optical tomography in phantom and small animal studies

When dealing with ill-posed problems such as fluorescence diffuse optical tomography (fDOT) the choice of the regularization parameter is extremely important for computing a reliable reconstruction. Several automatic methods for the selection of the regularization parameter have been introduced over the years and their performance depends on the particular inverse problem. Herein a U-curve-based algorithm for the selection of regularization parameter has been applied for the first time to fDOT. To increase the computational efficiency for large systems an interval of the regularization parameter is desirable. The U-curve provided a suitable selection of the regularization parameter in terms of Picard's condition, image resolution and image noise. Results are shown both on phantom and mouse data.

Globally accelerated reconstruction algorithm for diffusion tomography with continuous-wave source in an arbitrary convex shape domain

A new numerical imaging algorithm is presented for reconstruction of optical absorption coefficients from near-infrared light data with a continuous-wave source. As a continuation of our earlier efforts in developing a series of methods called "globally convergent reconstruction methods" [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A23, 2388 (2006)], this numerical algorithm solves the inverse problem through solution of a boundary-value problem for a Volterra-type integral partial differential equation. We deal here with the particular issues in solving the inverse problems in an arbitrary convex shape domain. It is demonstrated in numerical studies that this reconstruction technique is highly efficient and stable with respect to the complex distribution of actual unknown absorption coefficients. The method is particularly useful for reconstruction from a large data set obtained from a tissue or organ of particular shape, such as the prostate. Numerical reconstructions of a simulated prostate-shaped phantom with three different settings of absorption-inclusions are presented.

Reconstruction method with data from a multiple-site continuous-wave source for three-dimensional optical tomography

A method is presented for reconstruction of the optical absorption coefficient from transmission near-infrared data with a cw source. As it is distinct from other available schemes such as optimization or Newton's iterative method, this method resolves the inverse problem by solving a boundary value problem for a Volterra-type integral-differential equation. It is demonstrated in numerical studies that this technique has a better than average stability with respect to the discrepancy between the initial guess and the actual unknown absorption coefficient. The method is particularly useful for reconstruction from a large data set obtained from a CCD camera. Several numerical reconstruction examples are presented.

Multispectral breast imaging using a ten-wavelength, 64 x 64 source/detector channels silicon photodiode-based diffuse optical tomography system

We describe a compact diffuse optical tomography system specifically designed for breast imaging. The system consists of 64 silicon photodiode detectors, 64 excitation points, and 10 diode lasers in the near-infrared region, allowing multispectral, three-dimensional optical imaging of breast tissue. We also detail the system performance and optimization through a calibration procedure. The system is evaluated using tissue-like phantom experiments and an in vivo clinic experiment. Quantitative two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients are obtained from these experiments. The ten-wavelength spectra of the extracted reduced scattering coefficient enable quantitative morphological images to be reconstructed with this system. From the in vivo clinic experiment, functional images including deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, and water concentration are recovered and tumors are detected with correct size and position compared with the mammography.

Monitoring recovery after laser surgery of the breast with optical tomography: a case study

Results are presented of a study to monitor the changes in the optical properties of breast tissue over a 12-month period after interstitial laser photocoagulation treatment of a fibroadenoma. The study involved generating cross-sectional images of the breast with a multichannel time-resolved imaging system and a nonlinear image reconstruction algorithm. Images of the internal absorbing and scattering properties revealed the expected initial inflammatory response, followed by the development of low-scattering cysts consistent with corresponding ultrasound examinations. Although results indicate that purely qualitative images can potentially provide clinically valuable data, means of enhancing diagnostic information by overcoming present limitations of the approach are discussed.

Sagittal laser optical tomography for imaging of rheumatoid finger joints

We present a novel optical tomographic imaging system that was designed to determine two-dimensional spatial distribution of optical properties in a sagittal plane through finger joints. The system incorporates a single laser diode and a single silicon photodetector into a scanning device that records spatially resolved light intensities as they are transmitted through a finger. These data are input to a model-based iterative image reconstruction (MOBIIR) scheme, which uses the equation of radiative transfer (ERT) as a forward model for light propagation through tissue. We have used this system to obtain tomographic images of six proximal interphalangeal finger joints from two patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The optical images were compared to clinical symptoms and ultrasound images.