Abstract

We have developed a new ultrafast optical technique for two-dimensional imaging of absorbing objects embedded in diffusing media that is well suited to imaging through human tissue. Preliminary experiments have demonstrated 0.1 mm resolution of submillimeter objects completely obscured by 6 mm of raw chicken muscle tissue. This, to our knowledge, is the highest spatial resolution ever reported in this type of application. We have also demonstrated the capability of imaging, with sub-millimeter resolution, objects buried in diffusing material several centimeters thick. The implications are that this technique is a good candidate for application to the problem of non-invasive imaging through human breast tissue for tumor screening.

© 1991 Optical Society of America