Abstract: A diagnostic computed tomographic imaging apparatus, comprises a patient support structure including a tabletop to support a patient in front-down, prone position. The tabletop includes an opening to permit a breast of the patient to be vertically pendant below the tabletop. A scanning mechanism is disposed below the opening and orbitable about the breast pendent through the opening to obtain perimeter data and image reconstruction data of the breast. The scanning mechanism rotates about an axis of rotation transverse to the tabletop. One of the tabletop and scanning mechanism is movable in x-y axes to center the breast about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A detector array for use in a laser imaging apparatus, comprises a plurality of housings disposed in an arc around an opening in which an object to be scanned is disposed, each housing including an open front end, a rear end and a longitudinal axis; and a detector disposed within each housing at a distance from the front end, thereby to restrict the field of view of each detector. The housings are adapted to be orbited around the object about an orbit axis. Each detector is adapted to simultaneously detect light exiting from the object within the respective field of view of each detector. A method for collecting light exiting from a object being scanned with a light source is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring time-resolved measurements from a sample from optical scanning comprises pulsed laser light directed to the sample; a first detector disposed to detect the light after exiting from the sample, the detected light being in the form of a first temporal point spread function (TPSF); a first amplifier to amplify the first TPSF; a first analog-to-digital converted (ADC) to directly digitize the first TPSF; a first buffer connected to the first ADC; a time-pickoff detector to initiate the first ADC to digitize the first TPSF; a clock burst generator initiated by the time-pickoff detector to provide conversion timing to the first ADC; and a computer programmed to fit the digitized first TPSF to a theoretical curve to extract its amplitude, and attenuation and scattering coefficients.

Abstract: A patient support structure for a laser imaging apparatus, comprises a tabletop to support a female patient in front-down, prone position. The tabletop includes an opening adapted to permit a breast of the patient to be vertically pendant below the tabletop. The opening is non-symmetric with respect to an axis of rotation of a scanning mechanism disposed below the tabletop.

Abstract: An optical CT scanner for small laboratory animals comprises a housing having a vertical through opening through which a test subject is passed through during a scanning session, the housing including a peripheral slot disposed around the perimeter of the opening; a movable horizontal table disposed through the opening, the table being split with a horizontal slot aligned with the peripheral slot; a light beam directed toward the peripheral slot and orbitable around the opening; a plurality of collimators directed toward the peripheral slot and orbitable around the opening together with the light beam; a plurality of main photodetectors to detect the light beam after passing through the test subject and the collimators; a perimeter photodetector adapted to provide perimeter data of the test subject during a scanning session; and a first computer programmed to reconstruct an image of the test subject from the output of the perimeter and main photodetectors.

Abstract: An optical CT scanner for small laboratory animals comprises a housing having a vertical through opening through which a test subject is passed through during a scanning session, the housing including a peripheral slot disposed transversely through the perimeter of the opening; a movable horizontal table disposed through the opening, the table being split with a horizontal slot aligned with the peripheral slot; a scanning head rotatable about the opening, the scanning head including a light beam directed toward the peripheral slot, the scanning head including a plurality of collimators directed toward the peripheral slot, the scanning head including a plurality of main photodetectors to detect the light beam after passing through the test subject and the collimators; a perimeter photodetector adapted to provide perimeter data of the test subject during a scanning session; an electrical circuit to amplify and digitize the output from the photodetectors; and a first computer programmed to reconstruct an image o

Abstract: A scanner for a medical optical imaging device, comprises an illumination source positioned to direct emitted light into a breast positioned below a support surface; first and second groups of photodetectors positioned in an arc around the breast to simultaneously detect light emerging from the breast; and optical filters disposed in front of the first group of photodetectors to restrict the wavelength of light reaching the first group of photodetectors.

Abstract: A method for collecting data for use in image reconstruction of a tissue being scanned containing cancer cells comprises the steps of providing a source of laser beam; providing a biochemical marker that selectively binds to cancer cells within the tissue; directing the laser beam toward the object being scanned; orbiting the laser beam around the object; providing a plurality of sensors adapted to simultaneously detect the laser beam after passing through the object; and limiting the sensors to detect only the radiation released by the biochemical marker after having been activated by the laser beam.

Abstract: A method for collecting data for use in image reconstruction of an object being scanned, comprises providing a plurality of detectors disposed in an arc around the object being scanned to detect light passing through the object; impinging a laser beam at a point on the object; integrating the output of each detector at a number of successive time intervals, each time interval being longer than the previous time interval; digitizing the integrated output from each time interval; successively digitizing multiple times the integrated output from the longest time interval and averaging the results; orbiting the detectors and laser beam to another point on a circle; and repeating the above steps until a complete circle has been traversed.

Abstract: A breast-shaped phantom for optical imaging comprises a cup in the shape of a human breast in its natural pendant position and a filler occupying the volume of the cup. The cup forms an outer skin of the phantom with a thickness similar to human skin and with optical transparency at selected optical wavelengths similar to human skin. The filler material has optical scattering and absorption characteristics similar to human breast tissue. A method for making the phantom is also disclosed.

Abstract: A scanner for a medical optical imaging device, comprises an illumination source positioned to direct emitted light into a breast positioned below a support surface; first and second groups of photodetectors positioned in an arc around the breast to simultaneously detect light emerging from the breast; and optical filters disposed in front of the first group of photodetectors to restrict the wavelength of light reaching the first group of photodetectors.

Abstract: A photodetection circuit for use in a laser imaging apparatus comprises a photodetector adapted to respond to a laser pulse exiting from a breast being scanned; a multi-gain preamplifier circuit connected to the output of the photodetector; a switch connected to the output of the multi-gain preamplifier for sampling the output of the photodetector; an RC circuit for spreading the sampled signal; an amplifier connected to the output of the RC circuit; and an integrator for integrating each sample of the output. A time-gating circuit is operably connected to the switch to open and close the switch at regular intervals of time during the occurrence of the output. A laser pulse synchronization circuit is operably connected to the time-gating circuit to provide a signal to the time-gating circuit as to when the laser pulse is expected to arrive at the photodetector.

Abstract: A detector array for a laser imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of detectors disposed in an arc around an opening in which an object to be scanned is disposed; and a variable gain integrator operably connected to each detector to accommodate the dynamic range of each detector. A method for collecting data for use in image reconstruction of an object being scanned is also disclosed, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of detectors disposed in an arc around the object to be scanned, including a variable gain amplifier connected to each detector; impinging a laser beam at a point on the object; integrating the input to each integrating amplifier at several time intervals; recording each output at each integration interval for use in image reconstruction; orbiting the detectors and the laser beam to a next point on a circle; and repeating steps until a complete circle has been traversed.

Abstract: A detector array for use in a laser imaging apparatus, comprises a plurality of housings disposed in an arc around an opening in which an object to be scanned is disposed, each housing including an open front end, a rear end and a longitudinal axis; and a detector disposed within each housing at a distance from the front end, thereby to restrict the field of view of each detector. The housings are adapted to be orbited around the object about an orbit axis. Each detector is adapted to simultaneously detect light exiting from the object within the respective field of view of each detector. A method for collecting light exiting from a object being scanned with a light source is also disclosed.

Abstract: A detector array for a laser imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of detectors disposed in an arc around an opening in which an object to be scanned is disposed; and a variable gain integrator operably connected to each detector to accommodate the dynamic range of each detector. A method for collecting data for use in image reconstruction of an object being scanned is also disclosed, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of detectors disposed in an arc around the object to be scanned, including a variable gain amplifier connected to each detector; impinging a laser beam at a point on the object; integrating the input to each integrating amplifier at several time intervals; recording each output at each integration interval for use in image reconstruction; orbiting the detectors and the laser beam to a next point on a circle; and repeating steps until a complete circle has been traversed.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image of a scanned object comprises the steps of collecting object data by scanning the object with a laser beam and detecting the light passing through the object; collecting perimeter data of the object during the scanning step; transforming the object data to parallel ray geometry; correcting the projection data using the perimeter data; and backprojecting the data in image space.

Abstract: A detector array for use in a laser imaging apparatus, comprises a plurality of housings disposed in an arc around an opening in which an object to be scanned is disposed, each housing including an open front end, a rear end and a longitudinal axis; and a detector disposed within each housing at a distance from the front end, thereby to restrict the field of view of each detector. The housings are adapted to be orbited around the object about an orbit axis. Each detector is adapted to simultaneously detect light exiting from the object within the respective field of view of each detector. A method for collecting light exiting from a object being scanned with a light source is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned comprises a scanning chamber for receiving therein an object being scanned; a source of laser beam disposed within the scanning chamber for impinging on the object being scanned, the laser beam being adapted to orbit around the object; an array of sensors disposed within the chamber, each of the sensors being adapted to detect light emanating from the surface of the object due to the laser beam exiting from the object; and each of the sensors being disposed such that at least only one of the sensors generates a peak response to light emanating from a point on the surface at a predetermined distance from a reference point, such that at each angular position of the laser beam in the orbit, a specific point at a distance from the reference is determined, thereby to generate a set of points representing the perimeter of the surface after a complete orbit.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the perimeter of an object being scanned comprises a movable arm adapted to follow the surface of an object being scanned as the arm is orbited around the object; the arm having one end being adapted to maintain contact with the surface as the arm is orbited around the object; and an encoder operably connected to the arm for determining the movement of the lever arm at each angular position around the object. An opaque cup is positioned at one end of the lever arm immediately over a point on said surface at which a laser beam impinges on the surface of the object being scanned such that reflection from the surface is retained within the cup.

Abstract: A method for collecting data for use in image reconstruction of a tissue being scanned containing cancer cells comprises the steps of providing a source of laser beam; providing a biochemical marker that selectively binds to cancer cells within the tissue; directing the laser beam toward the object being scanned; orbiting the laser beam around the object; providing a plurality of sensors adapted to simultaneously detect the laser beam after passing through the object; and limiting the sensors to detect only the radiation released by the biochemical marker after having been activated by the laser beam.