Time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography of inhomogeneous media

The methods of time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography of inhomogeneous media and related problems are reviewed. Time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography allows one to measure the distribution of light absorption in turbid media with depth resolution up to several microns in real time. The theory of laser excitation of acoustic waves by absorbing of light in particles, dispersed in transparent, light-absorbing or scattering media, is developed. The distribution of light absorption can be obtained from the temporal course of acoustic pressure. Two schemes of acoustic wave detection — in the medium under testing (direct detection) and in transparent medium, coupled to the investigated one (indirect detection) — are discussed. In both cases the reconstruction of light absorption can be made by simple calculations. Test experiments with homogeneous and layered media confirm the proposed theoretical models and the possibility of using the proposed experimental schemes. Light absorption in homogeneous, inhomogeneous media and in absorbing particles dispersed in turbid media was investigated. The experimental setup allows one to measure the absorption coefficients over the range 1-500 cm^–1 with the depth resolution 10–15 m over the depth 1–1.5 mm.     

Polarization-sensitive optoacoustic tomography of optically diffuse tissues

Polarization is indicative of material anisotropy, a property that reveals structural orientation information of molecules inside the material. Herein we investigate whether polarization can be detected optoacoustically in scattering and absorbing tissues. Using a laboratory prototype of polarization-sensitive optoacoustic tomography, we demonstrate high-resolution reconstructions of dichroism contrast deep in optically diffusive tissue-mimicking phantoms. The technique is expected to enable highly accurate imaging of polarization contrast in tissues, far beyond the current capabilities of pure optical polarization-imaging approaches.     

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.     

Wideband focused film transducer for optoacoustic tomography

The response of a focused film transducer to wideband acoustic signals is studied both theoretically and experimentally. The transducer has the form of a narrow PVDF strip placed on a concave cylindrical surface. A software package is developed for calculating the impulse transient response functions depending on the position of the point source of spherical waves. The experiments are performed using laser thermooptical sources of acoustic spherical wave pulses excited by a pulsed diode-pumped Nd: YAG laser. The theoretical and measured temporal profiles of signals recorded by the transducer are shown to be in good agreement for the source positioned near the transducer’s focus. For this region, a transducer sensitivity map is investigated. For the case of the source positioned at the focus of the transducer, the absolute value of the transducer sensitivity is 8 µV/Pa.     

Wideband focused transducer array for optoacoustic tomography

The calculation procedure of the parameters of a multielement transducer array for the optoacoustic tomography of biological objects with high spatial resolution values is proposed. A multielement transducer with given spatial resolution values in three dimensions has been developed based on the proposed procedure for the early detection of breast cancer. The transducer array consists of a set of 8 linear PVDF piezoelectric films located on a plane and a focusing cylindrical acoustic lens. A map of the transducer’s focal area and point spread function have been measured using the constructed transducer array. Spatial resolutions of the transducer array obtained experimentally are in agreement with their calculated values.     

Image reconstruction in optoacoustic tomography for dispersive acoustic media

Conventional image reconstruction methods for optoacoustic tomography (OAT) assume an idealized, non-dispersive acoustic medium. However, the linear attenuation coefficient and the phase velocity of acoustic waves propagating in soft tissue depend on temporal frequency and satisfy a known dispersion law. These frequency-dependent effects are incorporated into an optoacoustic wave equation, and a corresponding reconstruction method for OAT is developed. The improvement in image fidelity that can be achieved over conventional reconstruction methods is demonstrated by use of computer-simulation studies.     

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.     

Measuring the normalized jones matrix of anisotropic samples by means of static ellipsometry

Functional capabilities of the static photometric scheme of ellipsometric measurements proposed earlier are considered as applied to anisotropic reflecting objects. Combination of different positions of the optical elements, as well as addition of two new positions of the polarizer (P = 0° and 90°) to those used before (P = ±45°) made it possible to obtain 24 equations for determination of the normalized Jones matrix of an anisotropic sample. For the ideal compensator (ρ _C = i), this system breaks down to 12 pairs of mutually identical equations. However, in this case, all three elements of the Jones matrix can be determined provided that ρ _pp ≠ ρ _ps ρ _sp . Computer simulation of the Jones matrix measurement indicates high accuracy of determination of the elements ρ _pp and ρ _ps and much lower accuracy for determination of ρ _sp .     

基于非局部平均的多光谱遥感图像除噪声

非局部平均除噪声的方法合理利用了图像自身的冗余性和邻域的相似性,可以获得非常好的除噪声的效果。但是目前大多关于非局部平均算法的研究主要集中在对单波段图像的除噪声方面。单独平滑多光谱遥感图像的每个波段会比较严重地损失图像的光谱特征。为此,文章提出了两方面的改进:首先,改进了非局部平均的平滑核函数,让核函数中的加权系数与每个波段建立联系而不是只涉及单一波段;其次,引入相关系数来衡量不同像素邻域的光谱相似性,并把这种光谱相似性作为非局部平均平滑约束的一部分。通过两方面的改进,传统的非局部平均的方法可以适应多光谱遥感图像的平滑除噪声。最后用不同卫星图像在不同的噪声水平下对算法进行了充分的测试,实验证明本文提出的方法更好的平滑掉了噪声而且更好的保持了图像的光谱特征。     

Comparing reconstruction algorithms for the 2D optoacoustic tomography of biological tissues

Three types of reconstruction algorithms for the optoacoustic tomography of biological tissues, based on delay-and-sum beam-forming, Fourier transform, and time reversal, are proposed. The comparison, based on both numerical and experimental data, shows the advantages of the delay-and-sum beam-forming method, which ensures acceptable computation time and improved quality of the reconstructed image.     

Experimental investigation of13CD3OH infrared transitions by means of optoacoustic spectroscopy

A systematic investigation of¹³CD₃OH infrared transitions around CO₂ laser line emissions is performed by means of optoacoustic detection. Using a waveguide CO₂ laser of 290 MHz tunability and, in some cases, an acoustooptic modulator to provide an extension of 180 MHz, 108 transitions are observed. Measurements of pump off-set and relative intensity have been performed. The data may be compared with those previously reported of high resolution Fourier Transform spectroscopy.Work supported by: FAPESP, CNPq, FAEP — Brasil CNR — ItaliaPermanent address: Depto de Ciências, FEIS-UNESP (15378) I.Solteira-SP, Brasil     

Optical signal-to-noise ratio measurement by optical homodyne tomography

An all-fiber optical homodyne tomography setup is introduced that measures the optical signal-to-noise ratio through reconstruction of the photon statistics. The scheme described has been conceived for applications to optical communications. In particular, the signal-to-noise ratio has been evaluated at lambda= 1.55 microm as a function of the received power. From the experimental data, in the case of optically amplified signals, the amplifier noise figure can be estimated.     

Fluid flow imaging by means of wide-band diffraction tomography.

The problem of reconstructing a two-dimensional distribution of fluid flow from wide-band scattering measurements is considered. Reciprocal scattering measurements are employed, meaning that scattered waves are recorded between a source and receiver, and again with the source and receiver interchanged. As shown, such measurements allow the reconstruction of a fluid flow image separate from that of a distribution of stationary acoustic velocity inhomogeneities.     

Real-time in vivo imaging by high-speed spectral optical coherence tomography

An improved spectral optical coherence tomography technique is used to obtain cross-sectional ophthalmic images at an exposure time of 64 micros per A-scan. This method allows real-time images as well as static tomograms to be recorded in vivo.     

Silicon V-shaped groove measurement by spectral domain optical coherence tomography

In this research, we focuses on a new detection method for testing a micro electro mechanical systems V-shaped groove in silicon using spectral domain optical coherence tomography with a thermal light source. By this method, the V-shaped groove depth, width and bottom width were measured. The technique, because of its noncontact operation and high acquisition rate, is suitable for on-line precision measurement of V-shaped grooves in silicon.     

Relationship between normalized light intensity and attenuated total reflection ratio

Attenuated total reflection （ATR） ratio is usually utilized to study the properties of surface plasmon resonance （SPR） sensors. The relationship between normalized light intensity and ATR ratio is investigated, and a modification coefficient is put forward to describe the relationship. A mathematical expression is built up for the coefficient based on Fresnel principle. The result shows that the ATR ratio, which cannot be measured directly in experiments, can be determined with the coefficient and the normalized intensity of light. The characteristic of the coefficient is also discussed.     

脉冲微波辐射场空间分布的热声成像研究

微波热声成像技术具有非侵入式、高对比度、高分辨率和低成本等优点而日益受到重视, 基于以上特点该技术有望发展成为早期乳腺癌常规或者辅助筛查手段. 本文基于脉冲微波热声成像系统, 利用软件仿真和对装有饱和盐水的塑料管阵列进行三维热声成像, 对脉冲微波辐射场的空间分布进行了理论和实验研究, 其中: 塑料管阵列为直径3 mm, 间隔8 mm的9×9方形结构. 仿真和实验结果表明距离天线越远脉冲能量覆盖范围越大, 能被有效成像的塑料管数目越多; 塑料管阵列的热声成像结果为3.1 mm直径, 7.7 mm间距. 本文验证了微波热声成像技术对脉冲微波辐射场空间分布的成像能力, 对解决定量热声成像技术中微波场能量分布不均匀问题的研究具有重要意义.