System and Method for Reconstructing the Surface Topography of an Object Embedded Within a Scattering Medium

Abstract

Methods of reconstructing the surface topography of an object embedded in a scattering medium are provided, with example methodologies including: imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using a scattered signal detector; detecting changes in the magnitude of a plurality of scattered signals obtained from multiple fields of view within the medium; and constructing an image of the surface topography of the object based on said plurality of detected signal magnitude changes. A plurality of system, apparatus, control means, evaluation methods, and materials and components useful for practicing the methods are also disclosed.

1 . A method of reconstructing the surface topography of an object embedded in a scattering medium, the method comprising:
 imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using a scattered signal detector;   detecting changes in the magnitude of a plurality of scattered signals obtained from multiple fields of view within the medium; and   constructing an image of the surface topography of the object based on said plurality of detected signal magnitude changes.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: creating a correlation between the magnitudes of said plurality of scattered signals and a distance to a portion of an object within each field of view; and converting measured signal magnitudes into distances and reconstructing a three-dimensional image representative of the surface topography of the object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of an object having weak signal scattering characteristics. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: reconstructing the surface image of a metallic object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of an object embedded in a medium having high signal scattering characteristics. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of an object embedded in a medium comprising a signal phase fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of an object embedded in a medium comprising a multi-phase fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using an electromagnetic scattered signal detector. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using an x-ray scattered signal detector. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using a pixelating detector. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using an Anger camera. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using a plurality of scattered signal detectors. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: detecting changes in the magnitude of a plurality of scattering signals obtained from an electromagnetic signal source disposed in communication with a plurality of pinhole apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: detecting changes in the magnitude of a plurality of scattering signals obtained from an electromagnetic signal source disposed in communication with a plurality of coded apertures. 
     
     
         15 . A system for reconstructing the surface image of an object embedded in a scattering medium, the system comprising:
 means for imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using a signal scattering detector;   means for detecting changes in the magnitude of a plurality of scattered signals obtained from multiple fields of view within the medium; and   means for constructing an image of the surface topography of the object based on the plurality of detected signal magnitude changes.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for creating a correlation between the magnitudes of a plurality of scattered signals and the distance to the portion of an object within each field of view; and converting measured signal magnitudes into distances and reconstructing a three-dimensional image representative of the surface topography of the object. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of an object having weak signal scattering characteristics. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: means for reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of a metallic object. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of an object embedded in a medium having high signal scattering characteristics. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of an object embedded in a medium comprising a single phase fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for reconstructing an image representative of the surface topography of an object embedded in a medium comprising a multi-phase fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using an electromagnetic signal scattering detector. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using an x-ray signal scattering detector. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using a pixelating detector. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using an Anger camera. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for imaging an object embedded in a signal scattering medium using a plurality of signal scattering detectors. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for detecting changes in the magnitude of a plurality of scattering signals obtained from an electromagnetic signal source disposed in communication with a plurality of pinhole apertures. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for detecting changes in the magnitude of a plurality of scattering signals obtained from an electromagnetic signal source disposed in communication with a plurality of coded apertures.