Focused array transducer for two-dimensional optoacoustic tomography

Optoacoustic (OA) imaging utilizes short laser pulses to create acoustic sources in tissue and time resolved detection of generated pressure profiles for image reconstruction. The ultrasonic transients provide information on the distribution of optical absorption coefficient that can be useful for early cancer diagnostics. In this work a new design of wide-band array transducer is developed and tested. The array consists of 32 focused piezo-elements made of PVDF slabs imposed on a cylindrical surface. A single array element response to an OA signal coming from arbitrarily located point source is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The measured signals correspond well to numerically calculated ones. Focal zone maps of the elements with aperture angles 30 degrees and 60 degrees are presented and discussed; the resolution in direction perpendicular to the imaging plane is determined. Point spread function of the whole array is calculated using experimentally obtained signals from the sources located at different distances from the array. Backprojection algorithm is employed for reconstruction of the optoacoustic images. It is shown that the spatial resolution of the images yielded by the proposed array increases significantly compared to previous transducer designs.     

Optical and optoacoustic measurements of the absorption properties of spherical gold nanoparticles within a highly scattering medium

In the present paper the requirements for optical parameter characterization of absorbing materials located within a highly scattering medium has been addressed. The measurement scheme incorporates the optoacoustic technique where a single acoustic transducer is used to detect ultrasonic transients generated from laser irradiation. The absorbing medium is based on different concentrations of spherical gold nanoparticles (SGNP’s), these are currently being considered as non-toxic targeted optical contrast agents for both medical imaging and cancer therapeutics. In this paper we present results which demonstrate the two main advantages the optoacoustic technique has over other measurement schemes. These are the possibility to obtain information on the position and dimensions of absorbing bodies using a time of flight analysis (TOF) and secondly, the higher sensitivity of the optoacoustics compared to optical transmission techniques. The former advantage is of particular interest for imaging applications and the latter for detection and characterization of absorbing materials surrounded by high levels of high scattering mediums. We present for the first time the characterization of SGNP within a highly scattering medium. To further demonstrate the feasibility of the optoacoustic technique, the scattering coefficient of the surrounding medium has also been characterized.     

Non-contact sound speed measurement by optical probing of beam deflection due to sound wave

We report a non-contact and non-invasive method of sound speed measurement by optical probing of deflected laser beam due to normally incident degenerated shock wave. In this study the shock wave from an exploding wire was degenerated to an ordinary sound wave at the distance exceeding 0.23 m. Temporal resolution of the deflected beam signal was improved by passing through an adequate electronic high-pass filter, as a result we obtained a better temporal resolution than that of the acoustic pressure detection by PZT transducer in terms of rising time. The spatial resolution was improved by passing the refracted beam signal into the edge of focusing lens to make a larger deflection angle. Sound speed was calculated by monitoring the time of flight of transient deflected signal at the predetermined position. Sound speed has been measured in air, distilled water and acryl, agreed well with the published values. The sound speed measured in the solution of glycerin, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), and dimethylformamide with various mole fractions also agrees within 3% of relative error with those measured in the present work by ultrasonic pulse echo method. The results suggest that the method proposed is to be reliable and reproducible.     

相位环形统计矢量对提高全聚焦成像质量的影响

为进一步提高超声全聚焦的成像质量,提出一种基于相位环形统计矢量的全聚焦成像方法。首先,在全聚焦实施过程中提取全矩阵数据中信号的相位信息。然后,将同一聚焦像素点的相位视作环形分布的统计样本,通过饱和状态加权统计构建由幅值和相位分布共同决定的相位环形统计矢量。最后,将相位环形统计矢量的模等效为全聚焦图像的幅值。结果表明,该成像算法既能够通过放大相位分布对信号幅值的贡献提高信噪比,又能够通过减小声束宽度有效提高横向分辨率。相比于相位相干加权算法SCF和CCF,基于相位环形统计矢量的算法对相位偏差的容忍度更高。      

Reconstruction of Optical Energy Deposition for Backward Optoacoustic Imaging

Visualizing optical properties, such as the optical absorption coefficient, helps us to obtain structural information of biological tissues. In this paper, we present an efficient reconstruction algorithm for optical energy deposition in backward optoacoustic imaging. Note that econstruction of optical energy deposition is the first step to imaging the optical absorption coefficient distribution. This algorithm is derived from the optoacoustic wave equations with line focusing, in which the focusing techniques were utilized to reduce the reconstruction problem from three dimensions (3-D) to one dimension (1-D). Simulations and experiments were conducted to verify efficacy of this algorithm. In the simulations, optoacoustic signals were generated based on the solution of the optoacoustic wave equations. In the experiments, a 3-D backward mode optoacoustic imaging system was built. The system consisted of a Nd YAG laser for optical irradiation and an acoustic detection system with a broadband hydrophone. A phantom was used to illustrate validity of the proposed algorithm. The results show that optical energy deposition can be efficiently reconstructed in both simulations and experiments.     

Photoacoustic microscopy by scanning mirror-based synthetic aperture focusing technique

Photoacoustic imaging with a synthetic aperture focusing technique(SAFT) is an effective method to improve the lateral resolution for out-of-focus regions in scanning microscopy systems, which commonly require a decent motorized scanning stage for a lateral scan of a transducer to obtain a cross-sectional image. In this study, we propose and test a photoacoustic imaging system with a scanning mirror-based SAFT(SM-SAFT) for simple and fast data acquisition, without the need for a physical scan of the transducer. Photoacoustic images of hair phantoms acquired by SM-SAFT are demonstrated, serving as a proof-of-concept experiment to show the feasibility and potential of the proposed approach.     

High-resolution optical coherence tomography over a large depth range with an axicon lens

In optical coherence tomography, axial and lateral resolutions are determined by the source coherence length and the numerical aperture of the sampling lens, respectively. Whereas axial resolution can be improved by use of a broadband light source, there is a trade-off between lateral resolution and focusing depth when conventional optical elements are used. We report on the incorporation of an axicon lens into the sample arm of an interferometer to overcome this limitation. Using an axicon lens with a top angle of 160 degrees , we maintained 10-microm or better lateral resolution over a focusing depth of at least 6 mm. In addition to having high lateral resolution, the focusing spot has an intensity that is approximately constant over a greater depth range than when a conventional lens is used.     

Lateral spatial resolution of widened focused transducer array for optoacoustic tomography

Numerical investigation of a point spread function for a optoacoustic transducer array is described. Analysis of the minimal reconstructed dimension for an optoacoustic image of a point source of spherical waves is performed within the proposed approach. The influence of the array geometrical parameters, number of array transducers, and the frequency band of a single transducer on the lateral resolution in the image plane is investigated in detail. It is demonstrated that the lateral resolution obtained with the help of a transducer array in the image plane is determined unambiguously by the frequency band of a transducer, the flare angle of the array, and the transducer width and does not depend on the number of transducers.     

激光相干层析成像的光散射模拟计算

利用低相干光作为光源的光学相干层析技术是一种新型成像技术。本文利用蒙特－卡罗（Ｍｏｎｔｅ－Ｃａｒｌｏ）模拟计算方法研究了该技术在不同的散射条件下,相干调制信号随散射系数的变化关系,得出了单次散射和多次散射的差别以及它对成像质量的影响,并进一步讨论了利用单次散射和多次散射信号,提高光学相干层析术图像清晰度和信号强度的方法。还研究了光束半径大小对成像分辨率的影响及变化过程,得出了对实验有指导意义的结果     

基于受激辐射信号的谱域光学相干层析分子成像方法

鉴于不同生理病理状态下组织复折射率实部的变化不大,传统光学相干层析(OCT)成像技术在分子特异性识别上存在先天不足.为此,本文提出了基于受激辐射信号的OCT成像方法,可在实现传统散射成像的同时,实现基于受激辐射信号的分子成像.在超高分辨率谱域OCT系统的基础上,通过增设光谱分光与调制抽运光支路,建立了基于单宽谱光源的抽运探测谱域OCT系统,详细推导了调制抽运下受激辐射信号的获取与成像公式.利用搭建的抽运探测谱域OCT系统,实现了瞬态受激辐射信号的相干探测.基于同时获取的受激辐射OCT信号和传统OCT信号,成功重构了氮化物粉末构建样品的基于受激辐射信号的分子对比OCT图像.