Measurement of fluid-flow-velocity profile in turbid media by the use of optical Doppler tomography.

Optical Doppler tomography is demonstrated to be a simple, accurate, and noncontact method for measuring the fluid velocity of laminar flow in small-diameter (~0.5-mm) ducts. Studies are described that utilize circular (square) plastic (glass) ducts infused with a moving suspension of polymer microspheres in air and buried in an optically turbid medium. The measurement of Doppler-shifted frequencies of backscattered light from moving microspheres is used to construct a high-resolution spatial profile of fluid-flow velocity in the ducts.