Extending application limits of scaling relations for time-resolved Monte Carlo simulations in diffuse optics

An analytic approximation of the distribution functions of scattering events occurring during photon migration in scattering media is proposed. This allows extending the range of applicability of scaling relations for scattering coefficient to generate new simulations starting from an existing Monte Carlo simulation. Time Point Spread Functions for a uniform variation in the scattering coefficient up to ±50% are calculated by using the analytic approximation of the scattering event distribution functions and compared with the the exact Monte Carlo simulations: the largest deviations from time point spread functions directly obtained by Monte Carlo simulations occur for late arrival times and are ≤ 50%.