Depth quantification for inhomogeneities within semi solid materials using 3D pulsed digital holography

A 3D experimental arrangement for pulsed digital holography is used to measure the depth position for both a glass sphere and tumor tissue, immersed in a semi-solid gel model. A master gel, one without inhomogeneities, is set to resonate via sound waves generated with a conventional speaker placed a few centimeters away from the gel container. Later an identical prepared gel with an inhomogeneity is placed in the original set up and interrogated at the same resonant frequency. On comparison and using only an out of plane sensitive set up it is possible to measure the displacement of the gel surface, indicating the presence of an internal inhomogeneity. However the depth position cannot be measured accurately since the out of plane component has also the contribution of the in-plane surface displacements. With the information gathered from the 3D pulsed digital holography set up it is possible to obtain three sensitivity vectors that serve to independently separate the contributions from each of the three x, y and z components of the vibration displacement, for the same exciting mechanical wave. It is then possible to build individual maps of displacement along the three rectangular axes and thus measure accurately the depth position of the inhomogeneity. Results from the optical data were correlated to the measured position for different inhomogeneity types, sizes and depths and on comparison an error in the position of less than 1% was found. This optical non invasive method is able to accurately find the inhomogeneity and its position within the gel making it a promising method for the study of mammal tumors, representing and alternative to the traditional invasive methods.