An imaging signal extraction apparatus comprising: an interface; a processing device, the processing device operatively coupled to the interface; and a computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processing device, perform operations comprising: a) generating a two-dimensional image from imaging information obtained from the interface, thereby estimating ballistic component of the imaging information; b) generating a three-dimensional image by remapping the two-dimensional image; c) identifying a candidate object in the three-dimensional image; d) obtaining an estimated spatial forward model of the candidate object by mapping the three-dimensional image of the candidate object with a point-spread-function associated with the imaging apparatus; e) obtaining background-corrected data by using the estimated spatial forward model of the candidate object and estimated temporal components; and f) iteratively updating the estimated spatial forward model and estimated temporal components until convergence is reached for the candidate object, thereby extracting the signal information.