Modeling Laser-Tissue Interactions: Implementing Thermal Models and the Wave Equation to Simulate Photon Transport in Tissues

POSTER

Abstract

The tracking of photons through turbid media (e.g. tissues) has been studied extensively from an experimental vantage point. In addition, myriad computational techniques have also been developed to simulate the interaction of light with tissues. These tissues are difficult to characterize- since their components are exceedingly variegated- and thus present many challenges to clinicians who require models which precisely predict the location and time evolution of energy deposition. Furthermore, the interaction of the turbid media sample with the source of radiation typically involves many dynamic mechanisms (e.g. mechanical, photochemical etc.) Indeed, under certain dynamic conditions, optical properties (e.g. index of refraction, absorption coefficient etc.) are not constant. Using models of thermal distribution, and accounting for an incident source of electromagnetic radiation an analysis may be performed. The differential equations describing these processes may be solved numerically using a finite element technique.

Authors

  • Frederick Barrera

  • Andrey Chabanov

    West Texas A\&M University, Rhodes College, Texas Woman's University, University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas State University, Pajarito Scientific Corporation, Idaho National Laboratory, Duke University, UNC, Department of Chemistry, UTSA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UTSA, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Harvar-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, University of New Mexico, Maria Mitchel Observatory, NRAO, University of Alabama, Trinity University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, V. Alecsandri College, Bacau, Romania, University of Texas at Dallas, Argonne National Laboratory, Western Michigan University, Institute of Physics, UNAM, Mexico, University of North Texas - Chemistry, University of St. Thomas, SwRI San Antonio, Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Brownsville, SciPrint.org, The University of Texas at Austin, Georgia Tech, MIT, University of Tennessee, University of Michigan, ORNL, Texas A&M University-Commerce, University of Texas San Antonio, University of Texas at Brownsville, University of Dallas, Sternberg Astronomical Institute, SwRI, CU-Boulder, SwRI/UTSA, Southwest Research Institute, JILA, University of Colorado, Department of Physics, Texas A\&M University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Angelo State University, St. Mary's University, Physics Department, University of South Florida, CINVESTAV, Queretaro, Mexico, Department of Physics, UCSD, LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A\&M University, Texas A\&M University: Department of Physics, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX, Paine College, Augusta, GA, University of Houston, University of Texas at Arlington, IREAP, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Air Force Research Laboratory, Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A\&M Universtity, College Station, Texas 77843, USA, Max-Planck Institut for Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1,D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany, The National Center for Mathematics and Physics, P.O. Box 6086, KACST, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia