Novel approach in biomedical imaging of tissue

We will develop a new technique for determining the optical properties (incl. the absorption and scattering coefficients and the asymmetry factor) of a multi-layered tissue and evaluate the potential for using this technique for diagnosis and localization of tumors embedded in such a layered tissue. Our approach will be based on rigorous radiative transfer theory. A sophisticated state-of-the-art radiative transfer algorithm for the coupled air/tissue system will be used to develop both forward and invers e algorithms for characterizing the optical properties of a multi-layered tissue, and to determine the location and optical properties of an object (e.g. a tumor) that is embedded in a layered tissue. Our novel concept consists of using many combinations of collimated beam illumination and viewing directions as well as multiple wavelengths to constrain the inversion problem. The methodology will be thorougly tested and validated against carefully planned and conducted experiments.