Optical properties of tissue measured using terahertz-pulsed imaging

Elizabeth Berry; Anthony J. Fitzgerald; Nickolay N. Zinov'ev; Gillian Claire Walker; Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam; Caroline D. Sudworth; Robert E. Miles; J. Martyn Chamberlain; Michael A. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.479993

5 June 2003 Optical properties of tissue measured using terahertz-pulsed imaging

Elizabeth Berry, Anthony J. Fitzgerald, Nickolay N. Zinov'ev, Gillian Claire Walker, Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam, Caroline D. Sudworth, Robert E. Miles, J. Martyn Chamberlain, Michael A. Smith

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5030, Medical Imaging 2003: Physics of Medical Imaging; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479993
Event: Medical Imaging 2003, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The first demonstrations of terahertz imaging in biomedicine were made several years ago, but few data are available on the optical properties of human tissue at terahertz frequencies. A catalogue of these properties has been established to estimate variability and determine the practicality of proposed medical applications in terms of penetration depth, image contrast and reflection at boundaries. A pulsed terahertz imaging system with a useful bandwidth 0.5-2.5 THz was used. Local ethical committee approval was obtained. Transmission measurements were made through tissue slices of thickness 0.08 to 1 mm, including tooth enamel and dentine, cortical bone, skin, adipose tissue and striated muscle. The mean and standard deviation for refractive index and linear attenuation coefficient, both broadband and as a function of frequency, were calculated. The measurements were used in simple models of the transmission, reflection and propagation of terahertz radiation in potential medical applications. Refractive indices ranged from 1.5 ± 0.5 for adipose tissue to 3.06 ± 0.09 for tooth enamel. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the broadband refractive indices of a number of tissues. Terahertz radiation is strongly absorbed in tissue so reflection imaging, which has lower penetration requirements than transmission, shows promise for dental or dermatological applications.

Citation Download Citation

Elizabeth Berry, Anthony J. Fitzgerald, Nickolay N. Zinov'ev, Gillian Claire Walker, Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam, Caroline D. Sudworth, Robert E. Miles, J. Martyn Chamberlain, and Michael A. Smith "Optical properties of tissue measured using terahertz-pulsed imaging", Proc. SPIE 5030, Medical Imaging 2003: Physics of Medical Imaging, (5 June 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479993

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available