METHOD AND DEVICE FOR NEAR-FIELD DUAL-WAVE MODALITY IMAGING

摘要

A method of near-field imaging a region of interest in an object comprises the steps emitting an input of near-field electromagnetic energy from a near-field source device into the region of interest, detecting a mechanical wave response generated in the region of interest in response to the near-field electromagnetic energy input, and providing image data representing an image of the region of interest on the basis of the mechanical wave response. Furthermore, a device for near-field imaging the region of interest is described. The invention relies on near-field exposure of the object to electromagnetic sources of safe energies. The physical basis of the image formation is the thermoacoustic phenomenon, which utilizes radio-frequency (RF) energy deposition onto the object under investigation. Subsequently, the absorbed electromagnetic energy generates acoustic response, which can be detected and used for forming volumetric visualization (image) of the underlining tissue absorption properties.