Biomedical applications of THz imaging

The technology behind optically-driven terahertz (THz) system is now well developed and commercial applications of this new technology are now beginning to emerge. The terahertz frequency range (0.1 to 10 THz) covers far infrared wavelengths. Terahertz light has the advantages that it is non-ionizing and is not highly scattered like visible and near-infrared light. Terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) is a reflection imaging method that has been used successfully in the past for non-medical applications. More recently, a portable TPI has been used to image a variety of human tissues, like teeth, skin and breast.