title: Dynamic time-resolved diffuse spectroscopy based on supercontinuum light pulses.
abstract: We present a detailed characterization of a system for fast time-resolved spectroscopy of turbid media based on supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber. The light source provides subpicosecond pulses in the 550-1000-nm spectral range, at 85 MHz, at an average power of up to 50 mW. Wavelength-resolved detection is accomplished by means of a spectrometer coupled to a 16-channel, multianode photomultiplier tube, giving a resolution of 4.5-35 nm/channel, depending on the grating. Time-dispersion curves are acquired with time-correlated single-photon counting, and absorption and reduced scattering coefficients are determined by fitting the data to the diffusion equation. We characterized the system by measuring the time-resolved diffuse reflectance of epoxy phantoms and by assessing the performance in terms of accuracy, linearity, noise sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility. The results were similar to those from previous systems, whereas the full-spectrum (610-810 nm) acquisition time was as short as 1 s owing to the parallel acquisition. We also present the first in vivo real-time dynamic spectral measurements showing tissue oxygenation changes in the arm of a human subject.
authors.affiliation: ULTRAS-INFM, IFN-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, P. L. da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy. js604@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swartling
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pifferi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cubeddu
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D007834:Lasers; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods