Data on the refractive index of freshly-excised human tissues in the visible and near-infrared spectral range

We report on the experimental determination of the refractive index for eleven freshly-excised human tissue types, acquired from 16 patients. Measurements are based on a prism-coupling refractometer that is pumped by five individual laser sources emitting monochromatic radiation at 450 nm, 532 nm, 633 nm, 964 nm and 1551 nm, respectively. A simple Cauchy model reproduces accurately experimental data and enables the prediction of tissue's index within the entire visible and near-infrared spectral range, as well the estimation of dispersion-related parameters, such as group velocity dispersion.

Automated summary

The experimental determination of refractive index for eleven different human tissue types using a prism-coupling refractometer and a simple Cauchy model is reported in this study. The model accurately reproduces the experimental data and enables prediction of tissue refractive index in the entire visible and near-infrared spectral range, as well as estimation of dispersion-related parameters like group velocity dispersion.