DETECTING INTERNAL STRUCTURES USING LIGHT GENERATED ACOUSTIC IMAGING

摘要

The present invention comprises a source (18) for vibrating the object (12) to produce at least one acoustic wave therein. The acoustic wave results in at least one surface displacement on the surface of the object (12). A light source (28) produces an optical object wavefront (30) and an optical reference wavefront (32) and directs the object wavefront (30) toward the object (12) to produce a modulated object wavefront (42). A modulator (44) operatively modulates the reference wavefront (32) in synchronization with the acoustic wave to produce a modulated reference wavefront (46). A sensing medium (48) positioned to receive the modulated object wavefront (42) and the modulated reference wavefront (46) combines the wavefronts (42, 46) to produce an image related to the surface displacement of the object (12). A detector (54) detects the image related to the surface displacement. A processing system (56) associated with the detector (54) constructs an acoustic image of interior features of the object (12) based on the phase and amplitude of the surface displacement of the object (12).