Continuous-wave ultrasonic modulation of scattered laser light to image objects in turbid media.

Continuous-wave ultrasonic modulation of scattered laser light has been used to image objects in tissue-simulating turbid media for what is to our knowledge the first time. The ultrasound wave focused into the turbid media modulates the laser light passing through the ultrasonic focal zone. The modulated laser light collected by a photomultiplier tube reflects the local mechanical and optical properties in the focal zone. Buried objects are located with millimeter resolution by scanning and detecting alterations of the modulated optical signal. This technique has the potential to provide a noninvasive, nonionizing, inexpensive diagnostic tool for diseases such as breast cancer.