Imaging of tissue using a NIR supercontinuum laser light source with wavelengths in the second and third NIR optical windows

Supercontinuum light (SC) at wavelengths in the second (1,100 nm to 1,350 nm) and third (1,600 nm to 1,870 nm) NIR optical windows can be used to improve penetration depths of light through tissue and produce clearer images. Image quality is increased due to a reduction in scattering (inverse wavelength power dependence 1/lambda(n), n >= 1). We report on the use of a compact Leukos supercontinuum laser (model STM - 2000 - IR), which utilizes the spectral range from 700 nm to 2,400 nm and offers between 200 - 500 microwatt/ nm power in the second and third NIR windows, with an InGaAs detector to image abnormalities hidden beneath thick tissue.