Interferometric Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy (iDOS)
TRD2 will drive the next generation of interferometric Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy (iDOS), a transformative technology for continuous, noninvasive blood flow monitoring, in critical clinical scenarios.
Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy (DOS) uses multiply scattered near-infrared light to probe deep tissue physiology. While the concept is inherently attractive—nonionizing light enabling safe, real-time assessment of tissue function—its clinical translation has been limited by superficial tissue contamination and poor quantitative accuracy. Continuous-wave near-infrared spectroscopy (CW-NIRS), though low-cost and scalable, has primarily been used to measure changes in brain activity and remains constrained by limited depth specificity, weak quantification, limited accuracy, and the interpretive ambiguity of tissue oxygenation measurements. Yet major unmet clinical needs remain in areas such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, reconstructive surgery, and perinatal obstetrics, where reliable, noninvasive optical monitoring could meaningfully improve care.
Our team has pioneered a paradigm-shifting solution: interferometric diffuse optical spectroscopy (iDOS). iDOS has been demonstrated in two complementary forms, interferometric diffusing wave spectroscopy (iDWS) and interferometric NIRS (iNIRS). iDOS overcomes longstanding barriers to quantitative blood flow monitoring, enabling massive parallelization and time-of-flight (TOF) resolution, creating a platform with the potential to dramatically improve the precision, depth specificity, and clinical utility of diffuse optical methods. Both core iDOS technologies are already established and well positioned for further innovation, validation, and broad dissemination. TRD2 will accelerate this progress by advancing iDOS toward practical use in medicine.
TRD2 is organized around four specific aims, illustrated below. Aims 1 and 2 will strengthen the technical performance of iDOS, while also expanding its utility through prototyping and standardization. Aim 3 will establish connections between iDOS and complementary approaches. Aim 4 will integrate these advances into intraprocedural workflows and support the development of the associated database and collaborative infrastructure.
