Method and apparatus for analysis of turbid media via single-element detection using structured illumination

1. An apparatus for determining surface or subsurface optical properties or structures of a sample of turbid media over an area of the sample comprising:

a source to expose an area of the sample to a plurality of structured illuminations each having one or more spatial features, wherein the one or more spatial features of individual ones of the plurality of structured illuminations differing from the one or more spatial features of other individual ones of the plurality of structured illuminations, and wherein at least one of the plurality of structured illuminations having a plurality of spatial features comprising one or more peaks and one or more valleys;

a detection system comprising an optical relay device and a CCD coupled to the optical relay device, wherein the detection system is configured to collect an optical signal with no spatial dependence emitted from a collection area at a single spatial location on the surface of the sample within the area of the sample illuminated by the plurality of structured illuminations, wherein the collection area is smaller in size than the area of the sample exposed to the plurality of structured illuminations and having a dimension less than or equal to the length of an individual spatial feature of the plurality of spatial features of the at least one of the plurality of structured illuminations; and

a signal processor coupled to the detection system and configured to reconstruct optical data from the optical signals with no spatial dependence collected from the collection area at the single spatial location by the detection system and corresponding to the plurality of structured illuminations, wherein the collected optical signals from which optical data is reconstructed includes only one optical signal per each of the plurality of structured illuminations.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detection system further comprises a tunable spectrograph optically coupled between the optical relay device and the CCD.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical relay device is a lens relay system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical relay device is an optical fiber.

5. A method of determining surface or subsurface optical properties or structures of a sample of turbid media over an area of the sample comprising:

exposing an area of the sample to a plurality of structured illuminations each having one or more spatial features, wherein the one or more spatial features of individual ones of the plurality of structured illuminations differing from the one or more spatial features of other individual ones of the plurality of structured illuminations, and wherein at least one of the plurality of structured illuminations having a plurality of spatial features comprising one or more peaks and one or more valleys;

collecting an optical signal with no spatial dependence emitted from the sample per each of the plurality of structured illuminations by collecting optical signals with a detection system configured to collect optical signals from a collection area at a single spatial location on the surface of the sample within the area of the sample exposed to the plurality of structured illuminations, wherein the collection area is smaller in size than the area of the sample exposed to the plurality of structured illuminations and having a dimension less than or equal to the length of an individual spatial feature of the plurality of spatial features of the at least one of the plurality of structured illuminations; and

reconstructing optical data from the collected optical signals with no spatial dependence collected from the collection area at the single spatial location and corresponding to the plurality of structured illuminations, wherein the collected optical signals from which optical data is reconstructed includes only one optical signal collected per each of the plurality of structured illuminations.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the detection system includes an optical relay device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the optical relay device is one of an optical fiber and lens relay system.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the detection system further comprises collection optics.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the detection system further comprises a tunable spectrograph optically coupled between the optical relay device and a detector.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detection system further comprises collection optics.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal processor is a computer.

12. An apparatus for determining surface or subsurface optical properties or structures of a sample of turbid media over an area of the sample comprising:

a source to expose an area of the sample to a plurality of structured illuminations each having one or more spatial features, wherein the one or more spatial features of individual ones of the plurality of structured illuminations differing from the one or more spatial features of other individual ones of the plurality of structured illuminations, and wherein at least one of the plurality of structured illuminations having a plurality of spatial features comprising one or more peaks and one or more valleys;

a detection system configured to collect an optical signal with no spatial dependence emitted from the sample from a collection area at a single spatial location on the surface of the sample within the area of the sample exposed to the plurality of structured illuminations, the collection area at the single spatial location being smaller in size than the area of the sample exposed to the plurality of structured illuminations and having a dimension less than or equal to the length of an individual spatial feature of the plurality of spatial features of the at least one of the plurality of structured illuminations; and

a signal processor coupled to the detection system and configured to reconstruct optical data from the optical signals with no spatial dependence collected from the collection area at the single spatial location by the detection system and corresponding to the plurality of structured illuminations, wherein the collected optical signals from which optical data is reconstructed includes only one optical signal per each of the plurality of structured illuminations.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the signal processor is a computer.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the detection system includes an optical relay device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the optical relay device is one of an optical fiber and lens relay system.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the detection system further comprises collection optics.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the detection system further comprises a detector coupled to the optical relay device.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the detection system further comprises a tunable spectrograph positioned between the optical relay device and the detector.

19. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the detector comprises a CCD.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the detector comprises a CCD.