Optimization of the hyperspectral imaging-based spatially-resolved system for measuring the optical properties of biological materials

This paper reports on the optimization and assessment of a hyperspectral imaging-based spatially-resolved system for determination of the optical properties of biological materials over the wavelengths of 5001,000 nm. Twelve model samples covering a wide range of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients were created to validate the hyperspectral imaging system, and their true values of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients were determined and then cross-validated using three commonly used methods (i.e., transmittance, integrating sphere, and empirical equation). Light beam and source-detector distance were optimized through Monte Carlo simulations and experiments for the model samples. The optimal light beam should be of Gaussian type with the diameter of less than 1 mm, and the optimal minimum and maximum source-detector distance should be 1.5 mm and 10-20 mean free paths, respectively. The optimized hyperspectral imaging-based spatially-resolved system achieved good estimation of the optical parameters. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America