CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT AND ASSESSMENT IN RAMAN CHEMICAL IMAGING OF A BREAST TISSUE MODEL SYSTEM

摘要

In continuing efforts to develop a Raman "optical biopsy" technique, the lipid and protein distribution in an animal model system was differentiated without the use of invasive contrast agents. Tissue component discrimination is based on the unique vibrational spectra intrinsic to lipids and proteins. Component discrimination is possible using ratiometric image analysis techniques. However, chemical image contrast is enhanced when processing techniques are employed that use more of the Raman spectrum than simply one or two Raman spectral bands. Contrast enhancement is quantitated by using an edge detection technique to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of multivariate processing.