Diffuse optical imaging (DOI) is a method of imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)[1] or fluorescence-based methods.[2] When used to create 3D volumetric models of the imaged material DOI is referred to as diffuse optical tomography, whereas 2D imaging methods are classified as diffuse optical imaging.
The technique has many applications to neuroscience, sports medicine, wound monitoring, and cancer detection. Typically DOI techniques monitor changes in concentrations of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin and may additionally measure redox states of cytochromes. The technique may also be referred to as diffuse optical tomography (DOT),[3] near infrared optical tomography (NIROT) or fluorescence diffuse optical tomography (FDOT), depending on the usage.
In neuroscience, functional measurements made using NIR wavelengths, DOI techniques may classify as functional near infrared spectroscopy fNIRS.