Spectral attenuation of brain and retina tissues in the near‐infrared range measured using a fiber‐based supercontinuum device

A novel setup for the efficient constant optical measurements of biological tissues in the near infrared is presented. The system combines the use of a fiber‐based supercontinuum source with a simple optics fiber collimator. This configuration allows a wide spectral range of measurement and, at the same time, can efficiently filter the straightforward transmitted light while avoiding scattered light. As a performance example, the optical characterization of rat brain and retina tissues are shown. The attenuation coefficient for both tissues in the near infrared region is also obtained. This technique could be applied in clinical research as a noninvasive method with several potential practical applications. A fiber‐based supercontinuum source with a fiber collimator has been developed to perform measurements from 1100 nm to 2240 nm. This configuration allows efficiently filter the straightforward transmitted light while avoiding scattered light. Biological samples as rat brain and retina were analyzed and the attenuation coefficient for both tissues are showed. Results report the potential of this device as a non‐invasive tool to study soft tissues.