THz Imaging Based on Water-Concentration Contrast
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Identifier/URL
43031462 (Pure)
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Abstract
Terahertz medical imaging has emerged as a promising new field because of its non-ionizing photon energy and its acute sensitivity to water concentration. To better understand the primary contrast mechanism in THz imaging of tissues, the reflectivity of varying water concentrations was measured. Using a pulsed THz reflective imaging system, a 0.3 mm thin paper sample with varying water concentrations was probed and from the measured data a noise equivalent delta water concentration (NEAWC) of 0.054% was derived. The system is based on a photoconductive pulsed source and time-gated waveguide-mounted Schottky diode receiver. It operates at a center frequency of 500 GHz with 125 GHz of noise-equivalent bandwidth and at a standoff of 4 cm, the imaging system achieved a spot size of 2.2 mm. The high water sensitivity of this system was exploited to image burned porcine (pig) skin models in reflection using differences in water content of burned and unburned skin as the contrast mechanism. The obtained images of the porcine skin burns are a step towards the ability to quantify burn injuries using THz radiation.
Repository Citation
Kazemi, H.,
Nguyen, C.,
Brar, B.,
Rebeiz, G.,
Nagy, G.,
Tran, L.,
Young, A.,
& Brown, E. R.
(2008). THz Imaging Based on Water-Concentration Contrast. Terahertz for Military and Security Applications VI, 6949, 69490D.
https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/physics/1273
DOI
10.1117/12.785337
