Raphaël Sablong

Asymptotic behavior and inverse problem in layered scattering media

The main challenge of noninvasive optical biopsy is to obtain an accurate value of the optical coefficients of an encapsulated organ (muscle, brain, etc.). The idea developed by us is that some interesting information could be deduced from the long-time behavior of the reflectance function. This asymptotic behavior is analyzed for layered media in the framework of the diffusion approximation. A new method is derived to obtain accurate values for the optical parameters of the deepest layers. This method is designed to work in a specific long-time regime that is still within the scope of standard time-of-flight experiments but far from being included in the mathematically defined asymptotic region. The limits of this method, linked to the cases where the asymptotic behavior is no longer governed by the deepest layer, are then discussed.

Unbiased Electro-Optic Waveguide as a Sensitive Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Sensor

A pigtailed Ti:LiNbO3 waveguide is here associated to a specific nuclear magnetic resonant coil to perform a low invasive magnetic field measurement. The developed device exploits a passive electro-optic transduction between the measured magnetic field and polarization state modulation of a laser probe beam. Because of the use of integrated optics, the coil electromotive force induces a dramatically enhanced electric field, thus leading to sensitivity improvement. A minimum detectable magnetic field lower than 60 fT. Hz-1/2 is achieved at the resonant frequency of 128 MHz. A dynamic range exceeding 100 dB is experimentally demonstrated.

Potentialities of an Electro-Optic Crystal Fed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonant Coil for Remote and Low-Invasive Magnetic Field Characterization

In this paper, we demonstrate the use of a LiTaO3 crystal associated with a typical nuclear magnetic resonant loop coil to perform an optically remote radio frequency magnetic-field characterization. The whole transduction scheme is theoretically and experimentally studied. The measurement dynamics reaches 60 dB. The minimum detectable magnetic field is lower than 1 nT, which corresponds to an induced inner crystal electric field as low as 30 mV/m. To evaluate the spatial potentialities of the sensor, a 1-D mapping of the field along an asymmetric butterfly-shaped loop coil is performed. The result is in good agreement with finite-difference time-domain simulations and demonstrates the vectorial behavior of the sensor device.

Differential optical spectroscopy for absorption characterization of scattering media.

Reflectance techniques are commonly used to characterize the optical properties of tissues. However, the precise determination of local chromophore concentrations in turbid media is usually difficult because of the nonlinear dependence of light intensity as a function of scattering and absorption coefficients. A technique is presented to easily determine absorbent compound concentration ratios in a turbid media from three optical reflectance spectra, in the visible range, measured for source-detector distances less than 1cm. The validity of the method is experimentally established, in cases of sets of diluted milk containing absorbent inks, over a relatively wide range of absorption (0.05-0.5 cm(-1)) and reduced scattering (10-20 cm(-1)) coefficients.

Towards optical characterization of biological media: analysis of backscattered images in linearly polarized light, simulations and experiments

Optical imaging is a non invasive way to characterise turbid media, which is of real interest for investigating biological tissues for diagnosis purposes. A method called Integral Reflectance (IR) has already been developed [1]. The media being illuminated by a laser beam (670 nm, <1 mW), the backscattered light is captured by a 2D CCD camera. The reduced scattering coefficient μs and the absorption coefficient μa are determined from the image. Having μs and μa, the objective is to improve the characterization by estimating the anisotropy factor g, using polarized light. Different patterns depending on g are produced in these images, presenting some lobes, centred in the entry point of the laser beam, whose number and shape vary with g. To assess a simple description of these patterns, a circular outline of the image, at a given radius, is studied by Fourier series decomposition, namely Fourier descriptors, whose indices, modulus and phase provide the number, the size and the orientation of the lobes, respectively. Backscattered images of turbid media with g in the range [0.006 ; 0.93] (μs = 10, 20, 40 cm-1 ; μa = 0.01, 1, 5 cm-1), were simulated using a Monte Carlo code for polarized light. Tables of Fourier descriptors were obtained as function of g, μs and μa. Five reference solutions made of polystyrene spheres in liquid, with g varying from 0.71 to 0.919 (tissue phantoms) were tested. The Fourier descriptors were compared to simulations, and g could be retrieved with a maximum error of 10%.

Analysis of simulated and experimental backscattered images of turbid media in linearly polarized light: estimation of the anisotropy factor

Optical characterization of biological tissues is of real interest to improve medical diagnosis, in particular in the detection of precancerous tissues. We propose a new, noninvasive method allowing the estimation of the anisotropy factor. This method is based on the image analysis of the Q element of the Stokes vector backscattered from the turbid medium. These Q-element images show specific patterns depending on g. Therefore the use of Fourier descriptors (FDs) on simulated data to discriminate the specific geometrical features of the Q element enabled us to determine a linear relation between the anisotropy factor and six FDs. This method was applied on experimental data obtained with calibrated solutions. The anisotropy factor was estimated with a maximum relative error of 13%.

Optical cardiac and respiratory device for synchronized MRI on small animal

Respiratory and cardiac motion must be overcome if MRI of the thorax or abdomen is to be performed satisfactorily. An optical-based device designed to synchronize MRI acquisition on small animal was developed using a pair of optical fibers. Light from a laser diode was focused into the transmit fiber and impinged upon the moving skin. The reflected light was detected by the receive fiber and then caries to a light-voltage photodiode, were the signal was amplified and filtered. The recorded optical-based signals are well correlated with both respiratory and heart motions. The signal amplitude recorded on both rats and mice were large enough to perform an easy adjustment of gating level with good differentiation between cardiac and respiratory signal. The device developed using thin fibers is simple to use even when space available around the mice is limited (narrow coils). The signal is totally unaffected by radiofrequency impulsions or magnetic field gradients used for imaging. This optical-based trigger system was used successfully for dual cardiac and respiratory synchronization of rat and mice for heart and liver examinations at 4.7 T.

Electro‐optic probe for real‐time assessments of RF electric field produced in an MRI scanner: Feasibility tests at 3 and 4.7 T

During magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, the average specific absorption rate (SAR) of the whole body is calculated as an index of global energy deposition in biological tissue without taking into account the presence of metallic implants or conductive materials. However, this global SAR calculation is not sufficient to ensure patient safety and a local SAR measurement should be carried out. Several measurement techniques have already been used to evaluate the local SAR, in particular electric field (E‐field) probes, but the accuracy of the measurements and the resolutions (spatial and temporal) depend strongly on the measurement method/probe. This work presents an MR‐compatible, subcentimeter probe based on an electro‐optic (EO) principle enabling a real‐time measurement of the local E‐field during MRI scans. The experiments using these probes were performed on two different MR systems (preclinical and clinical) having different static magnetic field strengths and with different volume coil geometries. The E‐field was measured with unloaded (in air) and loaded volume coils in order to assess the sensing characteristics of the optical probe. The results show an excellent linearity between the measured E‐field and the radiofrequency (RF) magnetic field in both experimental conditions. Moreover, the distribution of the E‐field throughout the volume coil was experimentally determined and was in good agreement with numerical simulations. Finally, we demonstrate through our measurements that the E‐field depends strongly on the dielectric properties of the medium.

Devising an endoluminal bimodal probe which combines autofluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy with high resolution MRI for early stage colorectal cancer diagnosis: technique, feasibility and preliminary in-vivo (rabbit) results

Conventional white light endoscopy (WLE) is the most widespread technique used today for colorectal cancer diagnosis and is considered as the gold standard when coupled to biopsy and histology. However for early stage colorectal cancer diagnosis, which is very often characterised by flat adenomas, the use of WLE is quite difficult due to subtle or quasiinvisible morphological changes of the colonic lining. Figures worldwide point out that diagnosing colorectal cancer in its early stages would significantly reduce the death toll all while increasing the 5-year survival rate. Several techniques are currently being investigated in the scope of providing new tools that would allow such a diagnostic or assist actual techniques in so doing. We hereby present a novel technique where High spatial Resolution MRI (HR-MRI) is coupled to optical spectroscopy (autofluorescence and reflectance) in a bimodal endoluminal probe to extract morphological data and biochemical information respectively. The design and conception of the endoluminal probe along with the preliminary results obtained with an organic phantom and in-vivo (rabbit) are presented and discussed.

Design and validation of a bimodal MRI-optics endoluminal probe for colorectal cancer diagnosis

In the light of the bimodal technical innovations put forward in the diagnosis of early stage colorectal cancer, we present a preliminary study based on a first prototype of a high Resolution MRI-Optics probe along with the first tests carried out and the results obtained.