Multi-channel Laser for Diffuse Optical Tomography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging systems, particularly those using Diffuse Optical Tomography, face challenges with high cost, bulkiness, and limited resolution due to the need for high-intensity light sources and specialized hardware, such as picosecond pulsed lasers and single photon detectors, when imaging human tissue or other diffuse media with near-infrared light.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves illuminating a diffuse medium with infrared light and using an ultrasound emitter to wavelength-shift the light, which is then detected along with a reference beam to measure absorption values, allowing for the generation of images. This approach utilizes a plurality of synchronized optical amplifiers to produce high-intensity, short-pulse, narrow-line-width infrared laser light, directed separately to a common target, rather than being coupled to a common output, to achieve the required light characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If picosecond pulsed lasers and single photon detectors are used for imaging diffuse media, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the laser source into multiple independent laser diodes that can be individually controlled and synchronized. Each laser diode operates as an independent channel, allowing parallel illumination of the diffuse medium without requiring a single complex picosecond pulsed laser. This segmentation maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple laser diode channels with a single detector array to achieve high-resolution imaging. By merging the illumination function across multiple simple laser sources and detecting with a unified detector system, the approach achieves the precision of specialized hardware while using more common, less complex components.
2Measurement precision
If high-intensity light sources are used for imaging diffuse media, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic pulsed illumination using synchronized laser diodes rather than continuous high-intensity lighting. By delivering light in synchronized pulses and detecting during specific time windows, the system achieves high measurement precision with reduced overall energy consumption compared to continuous high-intensity illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple laser diodes operating at moderate intensity levels rather than a single high-intensity source. The combined effect of multiple partial contributions from individual diodes achieves the necessary illumination intensity for precise imaging while keeping energy consumption of each component manageable.
3Device complexity
If multiple laser diodes are used instead of a single high-power laser, then device complexity is reduced, but maintaining spatial and temporal coherence becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes preliminary synchronization of multiple laser diodes before illumination, using a common clock signal to ensure temporal coherence across all channels. This pre-synchronization approach maintains the stability of light composition across multiple sources without requiring a single complex high-power laser.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a synchronization circuit as an intermediary that coordinates the operation of multiple independent laser diodes. This intermediary ensures that all diodes operate in temporal coherence, maintaining stable light composition while allowing the use of multiple simpler laser sources instead of one complex high-power laser.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces the need for expensive and bulky hardware, achieves high-resolution imaging, and provides a cost-effective solution for imaging diffuse media by using synchronized optical amplifiers to generate the necessary infrared light for Diffuse Optical Tomography, while maintaining spatial and temporal coherence.
Implementation Method 1
illuminating a diffuse medium with infrared light and using an ultrasound emitter to wavelength-shift the light
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of synchronized optical amplifiers to produce high-intensity, short-pulse, narrow-line-width infrared laser light
Data Source
AI summary
A laser device includes a seed laser, a plurality of optical amplifiers, and an optical distribution assembly. The seed laser is configured to emit seed laser light. The plurality of optical amplifiers is configured to generate amplified laser light by amplifying the seed laser light. The optical distribution assembly is configured to distribute the seed laser light to an input of each of the optical amplifiers in the plurality and each of the optical amplifiers is configured to direct its respective amplified laser light to a common target.