Performance Characteristics of Photoacoustic Imaging Probes with Varying Frequencies and Light Delivery Schemes.

Performance Characteristics of Photoacoustic Imaging Probes with Varying Frequencies and Light Delivery Schemes.
Ultrason Imaging. 2019 Sep 30;:161734619879043
Authors: Rich LJ, Chamberlain SR, Falcone DR, Bruce R, Heinmiller A, Xia J, Seshadri M
Abstract
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is an emerging biomedical imaging technique that utilizes a combination of light and ultrasound to detect photoabsorbers embedded within tissues. While the clinical utility of PAI has been widely explored for several applications, limitations in light penetration and detector sensitivity have restricted these studies to mostly superficial sites. Given the importance of PA signal generation and detection on light delivery and ultrasound detector frequency, there is an ongoing effort to optimize these parameters to enhance photoabsorber detection at increased depths. With this in mind, in this study we examined performance benchmarks of a commercially available PAI/ultrasound linear array system when using different imaging frequencies and light delivery schemes. A modified light fiber jacket providing focused light delivery (FLD) at the center of the probe was compared with the built-in fiber optics lining the length of the probe. Studies were performed in vitro to compare performance characteristics such as imaging resolution, maximum imaging depth, and sensitivity to varying hematocrit concentration for each frequency and light delivery method. Monte Car...

Source: Ultrasonic Imaging - October 3, 2019 Category: Radiology Tags: Ultrason Imaging Source Type: research