Using a simulation approach to optimize time-domain diffuse correlation spectroscopy measurement on human head.

Time-domain diffuse correlation spectroscopy (TD-DCS) has been recently proposed to improve detection of deep blood flow dynamics in a biological tissue, such as human brain. To obtain a high sensitive measurement, several experimental parameters such as the source-detector (SD) distance, gate opening time, and width need to be considered and optimized. We use a simulation approach to optimize these parameters based on Monte Carlo computations using a realistic human head model. Two cortical regions are investigated including the frontal and temporal lobes. SD distance ranging from 0 to 45 mm, gate opening time from 400 to 1000 ps, and gate width from 50 to 3000 ps are considered. The goal is to find out the optimal combinations of these parameters by which the higher contrast measurement on the cortical dynamics can be achieved. The simulations show that with an acceptable input power of light, the combinations of SD distance ranging from 0 to 15 mm, gate opening time at 700 to 800 ps, and gate width of 800 ps are optimal for achieving higher contrast measurement on the cortical dynamics. The simulation approach and results are helpful for the optimization of TD-DCS experimental design focused on brain functional detection.