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Goal of the project:
The objective of this project was to design, build, and characterize a frequency-domain optical sensor at 970 nm for optical studies of turbid media. The block diagram of the proposed instrument is shown in Fig. 1. The FRAC Grant has provided most of the funds ($5,000) required to purchase the RF synthesizer (PTS 160, price: 5,955). The proposed instrument is now functional and characterized. This work has been part of a Master’s research project. The student, Stefaan
Lambrechts, who has now graduated, was included in the original submission as key personnel for the project. Stefaan Lambrechts has compiled a paper describing all the components and the characterization tests performed. This paper is attached to this report. The project has been completed in 8 months, in agreement with the estimated time indicated in the original submission.
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| Fig. 1. Block diagram of the proposed instrument. RF: radio frequency; APD: avalanche photodiode. |
Future plans:
This instrument constitutes a starting point for further projects (which will likely require little or no additional funds) that include further characterization, computer interfacing, preliminary tests on synthetic turbid media, and measurements on biological tissues in vivo. An undergraduate student (Darren Fabbri) is currently conducting a research project involving computer interfacing and preliminary tests in highly scattering aqueous suspensions.
Summary:
This project has been completed as planned in the original submission. This project, rather than being a final step, constitutes a basis for more research projects that can open new opportunities in the field of near-infrared tissue spectroscopy, while providing a number of sub-projects suitable for undergraduate and graduate students.
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