Depth determination of chromophores in human skin by pulsed photothermal radiometry

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Applied Optics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.35.003379· OSTI ID:288767

Milner, T E ^[1]; Smithies, D J ^[1]; Goodman, D M ^[2]; Nelson, J S ^[1]; Goodman, D M ^[2]; Lau, A ^[3]

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1. Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550. (United States)
3. Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States)

We report on the application of pulsed photothermal radiometry (PPTR) to determine the depth of {ital in}-{ital vitro} and {ital in}-{ital vivo} subsurface chromophores in biological materials. Measurements provided by PPTR in combination with a nonnegative constrained conjugate-gradient algorithm are used to determine the initial temperature distribution in a biological material immediately following pulsed laser irradiation. Within the experimental error, chromophore depths (50{endash}450 {mu}m) in 55 {ital in}-{ital vitro} collagen phantoms determined by PPTR and optical low-coherence reflectometry are equivalent. The depths of port-wine-stain blood vessels determined by PPTR correlate very well with their locations found by computer-assisted microscopic observation of histologic sections. The mean blood-vessel depth deduced from PPTR and histologic observation is statistically indistinguishable ({ital p}{lt}0.94). {copyright} {ital 1996 Optical Society of America.}

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 288767
• Journal Information: Applied Optics, Vol. 35, Issue 19; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
RADIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
PULSED IRRADIATION
LASER RADIATION
CHROMOPHORES