Thermoacoustic tissue scanner
First Claim
1. A thermoacoustic imaging system for imaging structures of tissue, comprisinga source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, an acoustic coupling media for acoustically coupling said tissue to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array for detecting said thermoacoustic response, comprising an array of sensors arranged on a surface, said surface being rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting said thermoacoustic response, the angular extent of said surface about said axis subtending an angle that is less than a full revolution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermoacoustic imaging system including an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, a coupling media for acoustically coupling the response to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array. The array comprises sensors arranged on a surface, which is rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting the thermoacoustic response. The angular extent of the surface about the axis, subtends an angle that is less than a full revolution, streamlining the device and permitting flexibility in positioning the radiation source and other elements of the device. The source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the tissue is a plurality of sources arranged about the tissue and producing synchronized electromagnetic radiation in varying polarizations or phases to irradiate said tissue with electromagnetic radiation of a desired polarization. A thermoacoustic imaging system sized to be held within the human hand is also disclosed.
83 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A thermoacoustic imaging system for imaging structures of tissue, comprising
a source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, an acoustic coupling media for acoustically coupling said tissue to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array for detecting said thermoacoustic response, comprising an array of sensors arranged on a surface, said surface being rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting said thermoacoustic response, the angular extent of said surface about said axis subtending an angle that is less than a full revolution.
Specification