Photoacoustic Imaging Using A Versatile Acoustic Lens

摘要

To image various soft tissues in the body using pulsed laser optical excitation delivered through a multi-mode optical fiber to create photoacoustic impulses, and then image the generated photoacoustic impulses with an acoustic detector array, a probe includes either a mirror and an acoustic lens or a special acoustic lens of variable focal length and magnification that can operate in a liquid environment that is aberration-corrected to a sufficient degree that high resolution images can be obtained with lateral as well as depth resolution.

主权项

1. A method for imaging an object internally in a subject, the method comprising:
inserting an imaging probe into a subject; stimulating the object with laser light to produce ultrasound waves through the photoacoustic effect; focusing the waves through an acoustic system comprising a multi-element acoustic lens within the probe, wherein the multi-element acoustic lens comprises a movable element or group of elements which provides the multi-element acoustic lens with variable focal length and magnification; and imaging the focused waves in two dimensions.