GDOT: gated diffuse optical tomography
Inventors
Zhao, Yongyi • Raghuram, Ankit • Veeraraghavan, Ashok • Robinson, Jacob
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12507895-B2
Publication Date
2025-12-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for imaging a target embedded in a scattering media includes: one or more light sources that are pulsed lights at one or more wavelengths in a range of visible to near-infrared; a detector, including a photodetector array with a time-gating function, configured to collect a scattered light after a gate start time; and a processor configured to determine an image of the target based on the scattered light.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for imaging a target embedded in a scattering media. The system includes one or more light sources that are pulsed lights at one or more wavelengths in a range of visible to near-infrared, and a detector including a photodetector array with a time-gating function that collects scattered light after a gate start time. A processor determines an image of the target based on the scattered light.
The system employs a confocal geometry with spatial filtering through a pinhole that rejects out-of-plane scattered photons. The image-determining algorithm includes a forward model based on Monte Carlo and applying convolutional approximation. The approach ties the time-gated scattered-light collection to an imaging model that supports reconstruction of a target embedded in scattering media.
A corresponding method is also provided for imaging a target in scattering media. The method generates pulsed visible to near-infrared light, detects scattered light after a gate start time with a photodetector array having a time-gating function, and rejects out-of-plane scattered photons using spatial filtering through a pinhole. An image is then determined based on the scattered light using an algorithm with a forward model based on Monte Carlo and applying convolutional approximation.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes two independent claims: one directed to a system and one directed to a method. Each independent claim centers on a combination of timed, confocal pinhole spatial filtering with an imaging algorithm using a Monte Carlo forward model and a convolutional approximation, supported by pulsed visible-to-near-infrared illumination and time-gated detection via a photodetector array.
Pulsed visible-to-near-infrared illumination with time-gated photodetector array collection
One or more light sources provide pulsed lights at one or more wavelengths in a range of visible to near-infrared, and a detector including a photodetector array with a time-gating function collects scattered light after a gate start time.
Confocal geometry with pinhole spatial filtering rejecting out-of-plane photons
The system has a confocal geometry using spatial filtering through a pinhole rejecting out-of-plane scattered photons.
Monte Carlo forward model with convolutional approximation in image determination
The processor determines an image of the target based on the scattered light using an algorithm including a forward model based on Monte Carlo and applying convolutional approximation.
Time-gated detection and image determination method with Monte Carlo forward model and convolutional approximation
The method detects scattered light after a gate start time with a detector including a photodetector array with a time-gating function, rejects out-of-plane scattered photons using spatial filtering through a pinhole, and determines an image of the target based on the scattered light using an algorithm including a forward model based on Monte Carlo and applying convolutional approximation.
Pulsed visible-to-near-infrared illumination in the imaging method
The method generates one or more light sources that are pulsed lights at one or more wavelengths in a range of visible to near-infrared.
Across both independent claims, the inventive core is the same integrated imaging chain: pulsed visible-to-near-infrared illumination; time-gated detection of scattered light using a photodetector array; confocal geometry via pinhole spatial filtering rejecting out-of-plane photons; and image determination using an algorithm that includes a Monte Carlo forward model and applies convolutional approximation.
Stated Advantages
Deep imaging beyond about 50 mean free paths (MFPs).
Improved spatial resolution.
Improved conditioning (e.g., of Jacobian matrices/sensitivity matrix).
Substantially reduced runtimes versus DOT and ToF-DOT.
Documented Applications
Imaging a target embedded in a scattering media, including embedded/obscured targets in scattering media.
Imaging where the target is a human tissue or an animal tissue.
Imaging where the target is fluorescent.
Interested in licensing this patent?