Iterative finite-element-based inversion for quantified detection of molecular targets using optoacoustic tomography

We describe an improved optoacoustic tomography method, that utilizes a diffusion-based photon propagation model in order to obtain quantified reconstruction of targets embedded deep in heterogeneous scattering and absorbing tissue. For the correction we utilize an iterative finite-element solution of the light diffusion equation to build a photon propagation model. We demonstrate image improvements achieved by this method by using tissue-mimicking phantom measurements. The particular strength of the method is its ability to achieve quantified reconstructions in non-uniform illumination configurations resembling whole-body small animal imaging scenarios.