Patent ID: 7057730

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a first diffusive material having a generally cylindrical shape with a length greater than twice its diameter; a second diffusive material inside the first diffusive material separated from the first diffusive material by a cavity; a transparent material proximate an inner surface of the second diffusive material operable to hold an absorptive material, the transparent material having an inner surface that is curved along its length in a substantially sinusoidal pattern; first light detectors, comprising: first optical fibers operable to carry light from the first diffusive material; and first photodetectors operable to measure a first light intensity for the light carried from the first diffusive material; second light detectors, comprising: second optical fibers operable to carry light from the second diffusive material; and second photodetectors operable to measure a second light intensity for the light carried from the second diffusive material; first light sources operable to illuminate the cavity; a second light source operable to illuminate the absorptive material with a collimated beam having an incident light intensity; and a processor operable to: determine an absorption coefficient for the absorptive material based on a first diffused light intensity measured by the first light detectors in the first diffusive material and a second diffused light intensity measured by the second light detectors in the second diffusive material, wherein the first and second diffused light intensities are measured while the cavity is illuminated by the first light sources; and determine a scattering coefficient for the absorptive material based on a third diffused light intensity measured by the second light detectors in the second diffusive medium, wherein the third light intensity is measured while the absorptive material is illuminated by the collimated beam from the second light source.