Imaging of in vitro and in vivo bones and joints with continuous-wave diffuse optical tomography

We present what is believed to be the first absorption and scattering image s of in vitro and in vivo bones and joints from continuous-wave tomographic measurements. Human finger and chicken bones embedded in cylindrical scatt ering media were imaged at multiple transverse planes with Clemson multi-ch annel diffuse optical imager. Both absorption and scattering images were ob tained using our nonlinear, finite element based reconstruction algorithm. This study shows that diffuse optical tomography (DOT) has the potential to be used for detection and monitoring of bone and joint diseases such as os teoporosis and arthritis. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.