Does anyone know if this is related to Photonics Corp???
  United States Patent --- 5,835,617 Ohta, et. al.        Nov. 10, 1998
  Optical computer tomographic apparatus and image reconstruction method using optical computer tomography 
  Abstract
  An arithmetic control mechanism of the present optical CT apparatus calculates first light densities in output portions of an object on the basis of a numerical analysis method, when it is assumed that the object is divided into fine segments and all segments have the same value as an absorption coefficient under predetermined conditions equivalent to an actual measurements; and calculates second light densities in the output portions on the basis of the method, when it is assumed that sequentially selected one of the segments has a specific value as an absorption coefficient under the predetermined conditions. Further, the mechanism calculates, as influences of the segments, ratios of the first to the second light densities, thereby obtaining an influence matrix corresponding to an arrangement of the segments; calculates relative ratios of the third light densities in the output portions on the basis of the actual measurements to the fitst light densities, thereby obtaining a relative ratio matrix corresponding to arrangements of input and output portions of the object; and performs a matrix calculation by using the influence matrix and the relative ratio matrix, thereby obtaining feature data of the segments for reconstructing a tomographic image of the object. 
   Inventors: Ohta; Kazuyoshi (Hamamatsu, JP); Ueda; Yukio (Hamamatsu, JP).   Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (Hamamatsu, JP).   Appl. No.:       785,225  Filed:         Jan. 17, 1997
  Foreign Application Priority Data            Jan. 18, 1996 [JP]                8-006619 Intl. Cl. :   G06K 9/00, A61B 6/00 Current U.S. Cl.:   382/131; 378/4; 378/901; 382/128 Field of Search:    382/131, 128, 130, 154, 282, 284; 378/901, 4, 21, 74, 86, 87,89; 364/751, 736.01, 468.25; 356/379, 377, 325
  References Cited | [Referenced By]
  U.S. Patent Documents 4,375,695      Mar., 1983     Harding et al.     378/6 4,672,651      Jun., 1987     Horiba et al.      378/9 5,070,455      Dec., 1991     Singer et al.      364/413.14 5,137,355      Aug., 1992     Barbour et al.     356/342
  Foreign Patent Documents 0 561 643      Sept., 1993    EP                 378/4 0 614 645      Sept., 1994    EP                 378/4
  Other References
  Pogue et al, "Forward and Inverse Calculations for 3-D Frequency-Domain Diffuse Optical Tomography", SPIE, vol.     2389, pp. 328-339. 
  Schotland et al, "Photon Hitting Density", Applied Optics, vol. 32, No. 4, Feb. 1, 1993, pp. 448-453. 
  Dolne et al, "Analysis of Time-Resolved Data for Tomographical Image Reconstruction of Opague Phantoms and Finite Absorbers in Diffusive Media", SPIE, vol. 2389, pp. 16-29. 
  Primary Examiner: Couso; Jose L. Assistant Examiner: Dang; Duy M. Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
  24 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures |