Analysis of the fluorescence temporal point-spread function in a turbid medium and its application to optical imaging

A time-domain optical method to evaluate the concentration (n), lifetime (tau), and depth (d) of a fluorescent inclusion is described by the complete analysis of the fluorescence temporal point-spread function (TPSF). The behavior of parameters in the fluorescence TPSF is explored, and we demonstrate the method with experimental data from a localized fluorescent inclusion in scattering media to recover images of n, tau, and d. The method has potential application for in vivo fluorescence imaging. c 2008 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [DOI: 10.1117/1.3042271]