Optical device for analyzing a scattering medium held by a support

• US 8,120,784 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Inventors: Da Silva, Anabela, Berger, Michel, Guyon, Laurent, Rizo, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Gregory J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Underwood, Jarreas C
• Application Number:
  US12/425,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20090262365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 356600-640
• US Class Current: 356/601
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4795 spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium in vivo A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging

Abstract

An optical device intended for the analysis of a scattering medium, including at least one light source distant from the scattering medium and capable of providing an incident light beam intended to illuminate the scattering medium; at least one sensor capable of detecting a radiation emitted by the scattering medium; a support of the scattering medium at least partially non-absorbing for the incident light beam and the scattered radiation. All or part of the support is formed of a scattering material having a decreased scattering coefficient greater than 0.1 cm⁻¹ and smaller than 700 cm⁻¹.

Claims

1. An optical device configured to perform the analysis of diffused light emitted by a scattering medium, comprising:

at least one light source distant from the scattering medium and capable of providing an incident light beam to illuminate the scattering medium;

at least one sensor capable of detecting a radiation emitted by the scattering medium;

a manufactured support of the scattering medium at least partially non-absorbing for the incident light beam and the scattered radiation, the incident light crossing the support before attaining the scattering medium,

wherein all or part of the manufactured support is formed of a scattering material having a decreased scattering coefficient greater than 0.1 cm-1 and smaller than 700 cm-1.

2. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the scattering coefficient of the manufactured support ranges between 1 and 700 cm-1.

3. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said material has an absorption coefficient ranging between 0.01 and 300 cm-1.

4. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the diffusing medium of the manufactured support is selected so as to have diffusion and absorption optical properties close to the ones of the diffusing medium to be analyzed.

5. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the manufactured support comprises at least one wall located between the source and the scattering medium and/or between the scattering medium and the sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the manufactured support has the shape of a cradle configured to receive the scattering medium.

7. A manufactured support of a scattering medium adapted to an optical device configured to perform analysis of the scattering medium, and formed, entirely or partly, of a diffusion material having a decreased scattering coefficient greater than 0.1 cm-1 and smaller than 700 cm-1.

10. A method for manufacturing the manufactured support of claim 7, comprising the steps of:

preparing a powder of a scattering material;

mixing the powder with a solution of a substantially non-absorbing, non-scattering, and hardenable material; and

injecting the obtained mixture into a mold to form the support.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of mixing an additional solution of an absorbing material with the powder or with the solution.

8. A method for forming by tomography a three-dimensional mapping of the absorption coefficient and/or of the decreased scattering coefficient of a scattering medium comprising

providing an optical device comprising at least one light source distinct from the scattering medium, at least one sensor, a support of the scattering medium at least partially non-absorbing for the incident light beam and the scattered radiation, all the parts of the manufactured support being formed of a scattering material having a decreased scattering coefficient greater than 0.1 cm-1 and smaller than 700 cm-1;

illuminating the scattering medium with an incident light beam provided by the light source, the incident light beam crossing the support before attaining the scattering medium; and

detecting the radiation emitted by the scattering medium using the sensor.

9. A method for determining properties of fluorophores and/or properties of a scattering medium comprising:

providing an optical device comprising at least one light source distinct from the scattering medium, at least one sensor, a manufactured support of the scattering medium at least partially non-absorbing for the incident light beam and the scattered radiation, all the parts of the support being formed of a scattering material having a decreased scattering coefficient greater than 0.1 cm-1 and smaller than 700 cm-1;

placing the fluorophores in the scattering medium;

illuminating the scattering medium with an incident light beam at a first wavelength provided by the light source, the incident light beam crossing the support before attaining the scattering medium, said fluorophores being sensitive to the first wavelength and emitting the scattered radiation at a second wavelength;

detecting the radiation emitted by the scattering medium and the fluorophores using the sensor.