CCD-based projectional imaging of fluorescent probes in tissue-like media: experimental setup and characterization.
In this article, a non-contact imaging setup for the acquisition of multiple 2D projections of fluorescent probes in tissue-like phantoms is described. The setup basically consists of a high-sensitivity CCD camera for the detection of fluorescence and a rotating broad-beam light source for the continuous illumination of a rotatable phantom located in the rotation center. This allows for imaging of various projections in a full angular projection range of 360°. Beside the detailed description of the system layout, important key characteristics of the setup are outlined. The setup is demonstrated with projectional measurements of a tissue-like phantom and the results are verified by comparison of the projection-dependent fluorescence intensity distributions with corresponding 2D simulations. It is shown that the instrument is suitable for the sensitive detection of fluorescence emanating from fluorescent objects in tissue-like phantoms. Such setup could facilitate the collection of large projection data sets as they are used in optical fluorescence tomography of small animals.
Medical Optics at the Institute of Medical Physics, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestr. 91, 91052 Erlangen, Germany. thomas.poeschinger@imp.uni-erlangen.de
Thomas
T
Pöschinger
Edgar
E
Janunts
Holger
H
Brünner
Achim
A
Langenbucher
D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting / Q000379:methods; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods