We have developed a technique to reconstruct the three-dimensional (3D) image of the internal structure of an animal body using safe near-infrared light. In this special research project B, we attempted to promote the development of this technique, and to make the feasibility more realistic than before. 

The following results were obtained in this project.

(1) In computer simulation, we analyzed the light propagation in mammalian body tissue. We clarified the behavior of light in a turbid medium and the effect of measurement errors on the estimation of the spatial distribution of an optical absorption coefficient. Through this analysis, we could optimize the system parameters for the reconstruction of the 3D transillumination images.

(2) Based on the simulation results, we designed the hardware and the software of the imaging system.

(3) We started manufacturing each part of the prototype system.

Through this project, we could verify the realizability of the proposed “3D transillumination imaging system for internal structure of an animal body”. We could also obtained the clear prospect to complete the prototype system. These results were presented three times in the invited and keynote talks of academic conferences. With these results, we made the research plan and applied for the 2017 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research.