Confocal microscopy to measure tissue optical properties

Steven L. Jacques; Daniel S. Gareau

doi:10.1117/12.697298

21 July 2006 Confocal microscopy to measure tissue optical properties

Steven L. Jacques, Daniel S. Gareau

Proceedings Volume 6163, Saratov Fall Meeting 2005: Optical Technologies in Biophysics and Medicine VII; 61630X (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.697298
Event: Saratov Fall Meeting 2005, 2005, Saratov, Russian Federation

Abstract

The signal from a confocal measurement as the focal volume is scanned down into a tissue yields an exponential decay versus depth Z_focus, signal = ρ exp(-μ z_focus), where ρ [dimensionless] is the local reflectivity and μ [1/cm] is an attenuation coefficient. A simple theory for how p and μ depend on the optical properties of scattering (μ_s) and anisotropy (g) is presented. Experimental measurements on 5 tissue types from mice (white and gray matter of brain, skin, liver, muscle) as well as 0.1-μm-dia. polystyrene microspheres are presented. The tissues have similar μ_s values (about 500 [1/cm]) but variable g values (0.8-0.99). Anisotropy appears to be the primary mechanism of contrast for confocal measurements such as reflectance-mode confocal laser scanning microscopy (rCLSM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). While fluorescence imaging depends on fluorophores, and absorption imaging depends on chromophores, the results of this study suggest that contrast of confocal imaging of biological tissues depends primarily on anisotropy.

Citation Download Citation

Steven L. Jacques and Daniel S. Gareau "Confocal microscopy to measure tissue optical properties", Proc. SPIE 6163, Saratov Fall Meeting 2005: Optical Technologies in Biophysics and Medicine VII, 61630X (21 July 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.697298

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