title: Time-resolved reflectance at null source-detector separation: improving contrast and resolution in diffuse optical imaging.
abstract: We propose a novel approach to imaging in diffusive media based on time-resolved reflectance measurements at null source-detector separation. This approach yields better spatial resolution and contrast as compared to the classical approach, which typically employs a separation of 20-40 mm. Results are obtained by an analytical perturbation approach to diffusion theory and on Monte Carlo simulations. Practical implementation with state-of-the-art technology and performance of a complementary approach based on the use of small but not null source-detector separation are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: CNR-INFM and CNR-IFN, Politecnico di Milano--Dipartimento di Fisica, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pifferi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cubeddu
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Bianco
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zaccanti