CONFOCAL PHOTOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY WITH OPTICAL LATERAL RESOLUTION
First Claim
1. A method for noninvasively imaging a scattering medium, said method comprising:
- focusing at least one light pulse into a predetermined area inside an object using a focusing assembly;
transforming absorbed optical energy into an acoustic wave, the acoustic wave emitted by the object in response to the light pulse;
detecting the acoustic wave using at least one transducer positioned such that the transducer and the focusing assembly are coaxial and confocal; and
creating an image of the predetermined area inside the object based on a signal generated by the transducer representative of the acoustic wave.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A confocal photoacoustic microscopy system includes a laser configured to emit a light pulse, a focusing assembly configured to receive the light pulse and to focus the light pulse into an area inside an object, an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive acoustic waves emitted by the object in response to the light pulse, and an electronic system configured to process the acoustic waves and to generate an image of the area inside the object. The focusing assembly is further configured to focus the light pulse on the object in such a way that a focal point of the focusing assembly coincides with a focal point of the at least one ultrasonic transducer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for noninvasively imaging a scattering medium, said method comprising:
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focusing at least one light pulse into a predetermined area inside an object using a focusing assembly; transforming absorbed optical energy into an acoustic wave, the acoustic wave emitted by the object in response to the light pulse; detecting the acoustic wave using at least one transducer positioned such that the transducer and the focusing assembly are coaxial and confocal; and creating an image of the predetermined area inside the object based on a signal generated by the transducer representative of the acoustic wave. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A confocal photoacoustic imaging apparatus comprising:
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a focusing assembly configured to receive at least one light pulse and to focus the light pulse into an area inside an object; at least one transducer configured to receive acoustic waves emitted by the object in response to the light pulse, said at least one transducer positioned such that said at least one transducer and said focusing assembly are coaxial; and a processor configured to record and process the received acoustic waves. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A confocal photoacoustic microscopy system comprising:
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a laser configured to emit at least one light pulse; a focusing assembly configured to receive the at least one light pulse and to focus the light pulse into an area inside an object; at least one ultrasonic transducer configured to receive acoustic waves emitted by the object in response to the light pulse, wherein said focusing assembly is further configured to focus the at least one light pulse on the object in such a way that a focal point of said focusing assembly coincides with a focal point of said at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an electronic system configured to process the acoustic waves and to generate an image of the area inside the object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for determining a ratio of hemoglobin absorption within a biological tissue using a handheld device, said method comprising:
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focusing at least one light pulse into a predetermined area inside an object using at least one excitation wavelength, wherein a fluorescence signal is based on at least a local excitation optical fluence and properties of fluorophores in the predetermined area; receiving a photoacoustic signal emitted by the object in response to the at least one light pulse, the photoacoustic signal being a product of the local excitation optical fluence, an optical absorption coefficient of hemoglobin, and an acoustic detection sensitivity; determining the ratio of hemoglobin absorption based on a hemoglobin absorption coefficient that is based at least partially on the fluorescence signal and the photoacoustic signal.
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20. A method for determining an oxygen metabolic rate (MRO2) within a biological tissue using a handheld device, said method comprising:
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focusing at least one light pulse into a predetermined area inside an object; receiving acoustic waves emitted by the object in response to the at least one light pulse; and determining the MRO2 based on an area of an incoming vessel within the predetermined area, a mean flow velocity of blood in an incoming vessel, and a total concentration of hemoglobin, wherein the area of the incoming vessel and the mean flow velocity may are based on measurements obtained by one of ultrasound imaging, optical coherence tomography, and flow imaging technologies, and wherein the total concentration of hemoglobin is based on measurements obtained by the at least one light pulse.
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Specification