Abstract: A device is disclosed for detecting time-resolved optical data, the device comprising a sensor comprising a number of detection elements configured to detect a light signal in a single photon regime, a timing circuit connected to said number of detection elements though a common line, and a control module connected to the sensor, the control module being configured to selectively enable the detection elements of the sensor according to a set of enabling patterns. The timing circuit is configured to measure a time of arrival of an output signal from the detection elements on the common line, the output signal being indicative of the detection of a photon of the light signal by any of the enabled detection elements.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for detecting time-resolved optical data, the device comprising a sensor comprising a number of detection elements configured to detect a light signal in a single photon regime, a timing circuit connected to said number of detection elements though a common line, and a control module connected to the sensor, the control module being configured to selectively enable the detection elements of the sensor according to a set of enabling patterns. The timing circuit is configured to measure a time of arrival of an output signal from the detection elements on the common line, the output signal being indicative of the detection of a photon of the light signal by any of the enabled detection elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing photoacoustic tomography with respect to a sample that receives a pulse of excitation electromagnetic radiation and generates an acoustic field in response to said pulse. One embodiment provides an apparatus comprising an acoustically sensitive surface, wherein the acoustic field generated in response to said pulse is incident upon said acoustically sensitive surface to form a signal. The apparatus further comprises a source for directing an interrogation beam of electromagnetic radiation onto said acoustically sensitive surface so as to be modulated by the signal; means for applying a sensitivity pattern to the interrogation beam; and a read-out system for receiving the interrogation beam from the acoustically sensitive surface and for determining a value representing a spatial integral of the signal across the acoustically sensitive surface, wherein said spatial integral is weighted by the applied sensitivity pattern.

Abstract: The methods and systems are provided that alleviate the impact of experimental systematic errors. These calibration methods and systems can be based on the discovery that by including source and detector calibration factors as part of the inverse calculation for image reconstruction, image artifacts can be significantly reduced. The novel methods and systems enhance contrast in images of the distribution of the radioactive properties of a medium, and enable improved detection of, for example, spatial variations in optical properties within highly scattering media, such as human or animal tissue. The novel methods and systems receive radiation which exits from the medium. Then, one or more optical properties of the medium are derived using the received radiation and one or more calibration factors, wherein the calibration factors are variables. Subsequently, a distribution of the optical properties in the medium is determined using the derived optical properties.

Abstract: The methods and systems are provided that alleviate the impact of experimental systematic errors. These calibration methods and systems can be based on the discovery that by including source and detector calibration factors as part of the inverse calculation for image reconstruction, image artifacts can be significantly reduced. The novel methods and systems enhance contrast in images of the distribution of the radioactive properties of a medium, and enable improved detection of, for example, spatial variations in optical properties within highly scattering media, such as human or animal tissue. The novel methods and systems receive radiation which exits from the medium. Then, one or more optical properties of the medium are derived using the received radiation and one or more calibration factors, wherein the calibration factors are variables. Subsequently, a distribution of the optical properties in the medium is determined using the derived optical properties.