Methods for parallel-detection-based ultrasound-modulated optical tomography.

The research reported here focuses on ultrasound-modulated optical tomography based on parallel speckle detection. Four methods were investigated for signal acquisition and analysis, in which laser speckle statistics was applied. The methods were compared with the previously used four-phase method in the imaging of all-biological-tissue samples, in which the buried objects were also biological tissues. The image quality obtained with these methods was comparable with that obtained with the four-phase method; in addition, these methods have advantages in reducing acquisition time and improving the signal-to-noise ratio.