System and Method for Frequency Domain Photoacoustic Intravascular Imaging

摘要

A photoacoustic device capable of performing both intravascular photoacoustic (“IVPA”) imaging and intravascular ultrasound imaging is provided. The device includes one or more optical fibers coupled to a transducer assembly that includes an photoacoustic transducer and optionally an ultrasound transducer. The one or more optical fibers and photoacoustic transducer are arranged such that the illumination field generated by the one or more optical fibers is co-aligned with the sensitive region of the photoacoustic transducer. When both are present, the photoacoustic transducer and ultrasound transducer are arranged such that ultrasound generated by the ultrasound transducer avoids interfering with the sensitive region of the photoacoustic transducer. Frequency domain imaging may be achieved using an intensity-modulated continuous wave (“CW”) laser coupled to the one or more optical fibers.

主权项

1. A photoacoustic imaging device, comprising:
a laser configured to generate laser light; at least one optical fiber extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the at least one optical fiber being optically coupled at its proximal end with the laser so as to generate an illumination field at its distal end; a transducer assembly extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis and being coupled, the transducer assembly comprising:
an photoacoustic transducer arranged at the distal end of the transducer assembly, the photoacoustic transducer being configured such that a field-of-view of the photoacoustic transducer is co-aligned with the illumination field and to receive photoacoustic emissions generated by the illumination field in the field-of-view.