Picosecond electronic time-gated imaging of bones in tissues

Two-dimensional in vivo optical images of metacarpal bones of a human palm and in vitro images of turkey and chicken bones embedded in tissues were ob tained in the near-infrared region using femtosecond pulse transilluminatio n and picosecond electronic time-sliced detection technique. A small hole d rilled in chicken bone and embedded in chicken breast tissue was imaged usi ng early arriving light. Time-gated fluorescence images of an interior marr ow region of a bone injected with a fluorescent dye were recorded. The tech niques have potential for monitoring bone fracture, bone diseases such as, osteoporosis and arthritis, and diseases that originate in or affect bone m arrow.