In dynamic light scattering (DLS), the structure or material of interest, suspended in a fluid, is illuminated by a beam of laser light and the scattered light is interpreted in terms of diffusion coefficient, particle size or its distribution. DLS has shown clear promise as a non-invasive, objective and precise diagnostic modality for investigation of lens opacity (cataract) and other medical and toxicological problems. The clinical potential of LDS has been demonstrated in several species both in vivo and in vitro. In many clinical cases, discernment between normal and diseased patients is possible by simple inspection of the particle size distribution. However a more rigorous and sensitive classification scheme is needed, particularly for evaluation of therapy and estimation of tissue injury. The data supplied by DLS investigation is inherently multivariate and its most efficient interpretation requires a multivariate approach which includes the variability among specimens as well as any correlation among the variables (e.g. across the particle size distribution). We present a brief review of DLS methodology, illustrative data and our efforts toward a diagnostic classification scheme. In particular we will describe application of the Mahalanobis distance and related statistical methods to DLS data.

Date Published: 21 May 2001
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 4244, Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems XI, (21 May 2001); doi: 10.1117/12.427768

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4244:
Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems XI
Lawrence S. Bass M.D.; David S. Robinson M.D.; Eugene A. Trowers M.D.; Kenton W. Gregory M.D.; Lou Reinisch; Kenneth Eugene Bartels D.V.M.; R. Rox Anderson M.D.; Reza S. Malek M.D.; Kenneth Eugene Bartels D.V.M.; Lloyd P. Tate V.D.M.; Abraham Katzir; C. Gaelyn Garrett M.D.; Timothy A. Woodward M.D.; Hans-Dieter Reidenbach; George M. Peavy D.V.M.; Lawrence S. Bass M.D.; C. Gaelyn Garrett M.D.; Michael D. Lucroy D.V.M.; Kenton W. Gregory M.D.; Abraham Katzir; Nikiforos Kollias; Michael D. Lucroy D.V.M.; Reza S. Malek M.D.; J. Stuart Nelson M.D.; George M. Peavy D.V.M.; Hans-Dieter Reidenbach; Lou Reinisch; David S. Robinson M.D.; Lloyd P. Tate V.D.M.; Eugene A. Trowers M.D.; Timothy A. Woodward M.D., Editor(s)