Image reconstruction in near-infrared time-resolved optical tomography using analogous parallel-beam scanning mode

An experimental system for time-resolved optical tomography has been constructed from Ti:Sapphire laser and synchroscan streak camera. With a 3D step-motor driving translation- rotation stage, the system can scan the object to be imaged in a parallel-beam mode analogous to X-ray CT, by which the time-resolved projections at a variety of incident angles can be obtained automatically. By applying a nonlinear image reconstruction algorithm, the promising images have been produced from the time-resolved measurements for three kinds of tissue-like phantoms that represent the different combinations of the absorption and scattering properties of the embedded single inclusion. Our results have demonstrated this system as a reliable and ideal platform for the research of time-resolved tomographic imaging.