Evaluating the spatial resolution performance of a time-resolved optical imaging system.
An imaging system is being developed as a possible means of screening for breast cancer using harmless doses of visible or near-infrared radiation. This system produces transmission images of highly scattering objects by recording and discriminating between the times-of-flight of transmitted photons. Experiments have been performed to evaluate the likely spatial resolution performance of such a system. This involved measuring the edge profile produced by an opaque mask embedded in a highly scattering medium, and evaluating the spatial resolution as a function of the period of time over which transmitted light was integrated. The results suggest that a resolution of a few millimeters is achievable with a system with a temporal resolution of about 10 ps.
Hebden
J C
JC
Department of Radiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers