IN-VIVO LASER COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF HUMAN FINGERS BY COHERENT DETECTION IMAGING METHOD USING DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS IN NEAR-INFRARED REGION

We report in vivo laser computed tomographic images of the proximal in terphalangeal joint region of a healthy human volunteer's index finger . The laser computed tomographic (CT) images were obtained with a high ly sensitive coherent detection imaging method that is based on the op tical heterodyne detection method. These laser CT images are compared at the wavelengths of 715 nm and 1.064 mu m and with images obtained b y conventional imaging methods such as x-ray CT and magnetic resonance imaging. Internal structures of the proximal interphalangeal joint re gion could be clearly identified in the laser CT images. (C) 1996 Amer ican Institute of Physics.