Systems and methods for photoacoustic opthalmoscopy
First Claim
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1. A multimodal imaging system comprising:
- a laser apparatus for generating a laser beam capable of irradiating a biological sample;
a dual-axis scanner operatively connected to the laser for scanning the laser beam across the biological sample;
an optical device for delivering the laser beam to the biological sample; and
a stationary ultrasonic transducer for measuring laser induced ultrasonic waves, wherein the stationary ultrasonic transducer is immobile during the scanning of the laser beam.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for multimodal functional imaging based upon photoacoustic and laser optical scanning microscopy. In particular, at least one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a contact lens in combination with an ultrasound transducer for purposes of acquiring photoacoustic microscopy data. Traditionally divergent imaging modalities such as confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and photoacoustic microscopy are combined within a single laser system. Functional imaging of biological samples can be utilized for various medical and biological purposes.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A multimodal imaging system comprising:
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a laser apparatus for generating a laser beam capable of irradiating a biological sample; a dual-axis scanner operatively connected to the laser for scanning the laser beam across the biological sample; an optical device for delivering the laser beam to the biological sample; and a stationary ultrasonic transducer for measuring laser induced ultrasonic waves, wherein the stationary ultrasonic transducer is immobile during the scanning of the laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for noninvasive ophthalmic imaging, comprising:
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generating a laser beam capable of irradiating a biological sample, the laser beam being generated from a tunable laser system; scanning the laser beam with a dual-axis optical scanner; collimating and focusing the laser beam on the biological sample with an optical system; irradiating the biological sample based at least in part upon the focused laser beam; detecting photoacoustic waves with a stationary ultrasonic transducer in response to the irradiated biological sample, wherein the stationary ultrasonic transducer is immobile during scanning of the laser beam; processing the photoacoustic signals; and generating an image of the biological sample based at least in upon the processed photoacoustic signals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of noninvasively ophthalmic imaging comprising:
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irradiating an ocular region of interest with a laser beam generated from a tunable laser; noninvasively scanning the ocular region of interest using a dual-axis galvanometer capable of two-dimensional raster scanning; recording photoacoustic waves generated by the irradiated ophthalmic region and detected by a stationary ultrasonic transducer; controlling the recording and scanning in a synchronized manner; and generating an ophthalmic image based at least in part upon the recording and scanning.
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26. An ophthalmic imaging system comprising
a tunable laser for irradiating a biological sample with a laser beam, wherein the biological sample is an eye; -
a two-dimensional galvanometer for raster scanning the laser beam across a field; an optical delivery apparatus for delivering the laser beam to the biological sample; a stationary ultrasound detector for detecting photoacoustic waves generated by an irradiated biological sample wherein the stations ultrasoni nsducer is immobile during the scanning of the laser beam; and a processor for generating a functional retinal image based at least in part upon the detected photoacoustic waves.
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27. A laser scanning optical resolution photoacoustic microscope comprising:
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a tunable laser capable of irradiating a biological sample with a laser beam; a dual-axis galvanometer for raster scanning the laser beam; an optical delivery system for delivering the laser beam to the biological sample; and an ultrasound transducer integrated within a contact lens for detecting photoacoustic waves generated by the irradiated biological sample.
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28. An ophthalmic imaging system comprising:
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a tunable laser for irradiating a biological sample with a laser beam; a dual-axis scanner operatively connected to the laser for scanning the laser beam across the biological sample; an optical device for delivering the laser beam to the biological sample; and a stationary needle transducer for detecting photoacoustic waves generated by an irradiated biological sample, wherein the stationary needle transducer is immobile during the scanning of the laser beam.
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Specification