Confocal microscopy, coherent optical tomography and 2-photon imaging
seem to be ways people are seeing through skin.  Are there other ways
we can see through diffusing media (fog, milk, sea water)?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 17 Feb 2006 08:43 PST

What is it you are trying to "see"?

X-rays will see through many diffuse media, but may also see right
through any objects you are trying to image, i.e., x-rays can see a
rock in cloudy water, but may miss a jellyfish.

Sonar and sonograms also come to mind.


Can you let us know a bit more about your objectives, here?

Thanks,

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by gpassmore-ga on 17 Feb 2006 08:48 PST

I am trying to see an object, such as a pieces of glass in a glass of
milk.  The imaging method needs to be non-radiating due to (unfounded)
health concerns.

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Clarification of Question by gpassmore-ga on 17 Feb 2006 08:53 PST

Additional clarification...  the objects I am am trying to see in milk
are too small for sound waves.  Also, the objects are more likely to
be animal tissue than glass, making the difference in density slight.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 17 Feb 2006 09:09 PST

Your initial question was very broad, involving all possible
technologies -- no matter how elaborate or expensive -- for seeing
through all sorts of diffusing media.

Your clarification makes it seem as if you have a very specific task
in mind, and very specific requirements, however.

I wouldn't venture to try and answer this question as it is currently
presented, as it's far too vague (though another researcher may be
more bold than me in that respect).

However, it would sure help things along if you could let us know very
clearly what you're asking, and what sort of answer you are hoping
for.

Thanks,

paf

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Clarification of Question by gpassmore-ga on 18 Feb 2006 06:31 PST

I am trying to see blood vessel walls through blood so I can measure
distance between a probe and the vessel wall.  I cannot use X-rays
because they are not safe.  I cannot use ultrasound because it is
patented.  So I am looking for alternative methods.

Maybe an endometer would do?

Correction: An Endoscope.

you say that ultra-sound is patented. just wonderign if the patent
only applies to a specific frequency range? perhaps outside of this
range would work for you. other than that your going to have to use
some type of radiation

How about dilute the blood, with a stream of water/salt .

Then just use a normal type camera of small size,
to view the image and aproximate the distance.

Your question appears to have 3 separate parts:

1.  Identify all of the imaging technologies that "could be used to
see blood vessel walls through blood so I can measure distance between
a probe and the vessel wall".
2.  Describe the extent to which existing patents cover each imaging
technology, for this particular application.
3.  Evaluate the health risks of using each of these technologies. 
(Ultrasound is far from risk-free in this application.  Inserting a
probe in a blood vessel of a living human being is an invasive
procedure with far more health risk than a CT scan using X-rays, for
example.)

This is a pretty big request, especially Part 2, the survey of
existing patents.  Perhaps some individuals with expertise in these
imaging modalities would be willing to step in to provide comments. 
In my experience, invasive ultrasound is probably the "gold standard"
in this imaging application, used for example to measure plaque
buildup on artery walls, in clinical studies of statin drug
effectiveness.

I am new to this Google answers thing and don't quite know how things
work so if I am breaking some rule by replying to an expired question
then please forgive me.

I think that this can be done by several techniques. Micron wavelength
RF imaging would be a good thing to try. There is also a technology
known as Ballistic Photon Imaging but it is to experimental. I would
also verify that Ultrasound itself is patented. You may be seeing a
patent for an ultrasound technique. I have worked on a number of new
technologies that employ the basic ultrasound physics.

Bruce

Hi Bruce

You've broken no rules!

And you have certainly contributed to the debate.

The remarkable thing is that you have been able to Comment on an
'Expired' Question ...

This facility often disappears upon expiry.

My guess is that the Antibiotic has not been effective in this case.

Well done!

Bryan

Dear Bryan,
Surprised that you haven't discovered that there are three types of
"expired" questions:
-  those cancelled by the questioner, which can no longer be commented on;
-  those that expire automatically when the expiration date/time is
reached, after which an answer can no longer be posted, but the
question is still open to comments;
-  those more than 12 months old, which will also no longer accept
comments, but apparently  - if the question has been answered -  will
accept clarifications by the asker and answerer, such as this one, to
which I slipped in a comment within the 12 month period:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=511127 

Cheers, Myo

Hi Myo

There's also a fourth type: one that doesn't stay open for Comments
despite the rules that you have outlined!

Explain that - if you can!

Bryo