Human Sinus Studies using Monte Carlo Simulations and Diode Laser Gas Absorption Spectroscopy

We demonstrate the possibility of non-intrusive in-vivo human sinus studies by diode laser gas absorption spectroscopy. Molecular oxygen in tissue-like phantoms were investigated in a practical backscattering detection geometry for frontal sinus studies both experimentally and numerically using the Monte Carlo concept, implemented in the Advanced Systems Analysis Program (ASAPtrade) software. Light was launched into and detected from the forehead on a health volunteer. A model representing the frontal sinus measurements was implemented in ASAPtrade and studied. The results from the experiments and the simulations show a good agreement for both the tissue-like phantom measurements and the measurements of the healthy volunteer. Preliminary data from human maxillary sinus measurements are also shown. The results are promising and suggest further development of this technique for sinuses studies.