DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2014.96
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1251
Date of Award
6-2014
Degree Name
MS in Biomedical Engineering
Department/Program
Biomedical and General Engineering
Advisor
Lily Laiho
Abstract
Laser speckle imaging, often referred to as laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA), has been sought after as a quasi-real-time, full-field, flow visualization method. It has been proven to be a valid and reliable qualitative method, but there has yet to be any definitive consensus on its ability to be used as a quantitative tool. The biggest impediment to the process of quantifying speckle measurements is the introduction of additional non dynamic speckle patterns from the surroundings. The dynamic speckle pattern under investigation is often obscured by noise caused by background static speckle patterns. One proposed solution to this problem is known as dynamic laser speckle imaging (dLSI). dLSI attempts to isolate the dynamic speckle signal from the previously mentioned background and provide a consistent dynamic measurement. This paper will investigate the use of this method over a range of experimental and simulated conditions. While it is believable that dLSI could be used quantitatively, there were inconsistencies that arose during analysis. Simulated data showed that if the mixed dynamic and static speckle patterns were modeled as the sum of two independent speckle patterns, increasing static contributions led to decreasing dynamic contrast contributions, something not expected by theory. Experimentation also showed that there were scenarios where scattering from the dynamic media obscured scattering from the static medium, resulting in poor estimates of the velocities causing the dynamic scattering. In light of these observations, steps were proposed and outlined to further investigate into this method. With more research it should be possible to create a set of conditions where dLSI is known be accurate and quantitative.