Quantitative measurements of absorption spectra in scattering media by low-coherence spectroscopy.

Low-coherence spectroscopy (LCS) is a spectroscopic method that allows for quantitative and localized assessment of absorption spectra by combining reflection spectroscopy with low-coherence interferometry. We describe absorption coefficient (mu(a)) measurements by LCS in tissue simulating phantoms with varying scattering and absorbing properties. We used LCS in the 455-680 nm wavelength range with a spectral resolution of 8 nm to obtain mu(a) spectra with +/-0.5 mm(-1) accuracy. We conclude that LCS is a promising technique for the in vivo determination of tissue chromophore concentrations.