In vivo infrared tomographic imaging of laser-heated blood vessels

We demonstrate a method for infrared tomographic imaging of the initial thr ee-dimensional (3-D) temperature increase of in vivo blood vessels followin g pulsed laser exposure. Using a time-sequence of infrared images recorded by a fast focal plane array camera as input data, a reconstruction algorith m is used to compute the initial 3-D temperature increases in the chick cho rioallantoic membrane and port wine stain in human skin. The noncontact tom ographic imaging method is relevant to various laser therapies that rely on a photothermal mechanism for selective modification of tissue and mag find diagnostic application to determine optimal laser dosimetry, position, and size of targeted subsurface chromophores.