Abstract
Mid-infrared (MIR) (3-12 um) spectral imaging is a power analytical tool, but difficult in the back-reflectance mode for in-vivo diagnostics. Feasibility of MIR back-reflectance imaging is demonstrated using MIR semiconductor lasers. Transmittance through 500-μm thick films of water and blood showed a capability to resolve more than 6-OD signal dynamic range. Reflectance scanning imaging through a 150-μm thick film of blood showed negligible scattering effect, indicating the feasibility of optical coherent imaging. The result of coherent imaging of a plant leaf shows a MIR sub-surface image that would not be visible in white light. With two wavelengths, a similar result for a chicken skin subcutaneous tissue at different focal depths was obtained, showing blood vessels beneath a lipid layer. These results suggest that advanced multilaser wavelength systems in the fingerprint spectral region can be a useful tool for in-vivo spectral imaging in biomedical research and diagnostic applications.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 208-219 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Optics Express |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics