Playback mode in an optoacoustic imaging system

• US 9,743,839 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seno Medical Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seno Medical Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Zalev, Jason, Clingman, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): MOYER, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US13/842,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 382128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/466 adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00

Abstract

An optoacoustic imaging system includes a handheld probe and a computing subsystem. The probe includes an ultrasound transducer array, the array being capable of receiving an acoustic return signal. The system further includes a light source capable of generating pulses of light and delivering the pulses to the handheld probe. The computing subsystem generates images from the acoustic return signal, and the subsystem is configured to store raw data frames in a buffer. Upon actuation of a playback mode via the user input device, the computing subsystem is caused to switch from a live mode wherein images from the acoustic return signal are displayed substantially in real time to the playback mode wherein images are generated from the frames stored in the buffer. One or more parameters affecting processing of the frames into an output image displayed upon the display can be enabled during the playback mode such that the output image varies from an image generated from the frame when the system is not in the playback mode. In this manner, the user can play back an area of interest using alternative filters that highlight different physiological features of the region of interest, alternative modes of display, and other alternative parameters.

Claims

1. An optoacoustic imaging system for imaging tissue comprising:

a first light source capable of generating pulses of light at a first wavelength, and a second light source capable of generating pulses of light at a second wavelength;

a handheld probe having a distal end and a proximal end, the handheld probe comprising an optical window located at the distal end of the handheld probe, the optical window being in optical communication with the first light source and the second light source and capable to transmit the pulses of light to the tissue, and an ultrasound transducer array having an active end located at the distal end of the handheld probe, the ultrasound transducer array capable of receiving an acoustic return signal from the tissue;

a computing subsystem for generating images from said acoustic return signal, said computing subsystem being configured to process and store a plurality of frames in a buffer, each frame of the plurality of frames comprising data including a sinogram; and

an ultrasound image;

a display for displaying the images generated by the computing subsystem; and

a user input device;

the optoacoustic imaging system being configured to switch, upon actuation of a playback mode via the user input device, from a live mode wherein images from the acoustic return signal are displayed in real time to the playback mode wherein at least one image is generated from at least one of the plurality of frames;

the optoacoustic imaging system further being configured such that at least one parameter affecting the processing of said plurality of frames into an output image displayed upon said display can be enabled during the playback mode such that the output image displayed varies from an image generated from the frame when the optoacoustic imaging system is not in the playback mode;

wherein, when the parameter is enabled, the output image displayed in playback mode is generated using interframe persistent artifact reduction processing;

wherein the interframe persistent artifact reduction processing is configured to be performed on each of the plurality of frames generated from the pulses of light for each of the first wavelength and the second wavelength; and

wherein each of the plurality of frames is grouped into groups, each group including one or more prior frames and one or more future frames of the same total light-energy.

2. The optoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter affecting processing of said plurality of frames into the output image comprises a parameter that engages a filter.

3. The optoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter affecting processing of said plurality of frames into the output image comprises a parameter that tunes a filter.

4. The optoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter affecting processing of said plurality of frames into the output image comprises a region-of-interest depth parameter.

5. The optoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter affecting processing of said plurality of frames into the output image comprises a parameter that causes a different reconstruction algorithm to be used to produce the output image than that which was used to produce a live output image.

6. The optoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter affecting processing of said plurality of frames into the output image comprises a parameter that causes an engaging of a filter tuned to highlight different physiological features than that which was used to produce a live output image.

7. The optoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a pause button.

8. The optoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises an x-seconds-back button.

9. The optoacoustic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the playback mode comprises a six-image display mode.

10. A method of recording and playing back data associated with the operation of a combined ultrasound and optoacoustic imaging system, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a light event comprising of pulses of light at least two wavelengths;

processing and storing a plurality of frames in a buffer, each frame of the plurality of frames comprising data including;

a sinogram; and

an ultrasound image;

switching upon activation of a playback mode via a user input device, from a live mode wherein images generated from an acoustic return signal are displayed in real time to the playback mode wherein at least one image is generated from at least one of the plurality of frames;

causing, in response to receipt of an input via the user input device, at least one parameter affecting the processing of said plurality of frames into an output image displayed upon a display to be enabled during the playback mode such that the output image displayed varies from an image generated from the frame when the optoacoustic imaging system was in the live mode;

wherein, when the parameter is enabled, the output image displayed in playback mode is generated using interframe persistent artifact reduction processing;

wherein the interframe persistent artifact reduction processing is configured to be performed on each of the plurality of frames generated from the pulses of light for each of the at least two wavelengths; and

wherein each of the plurality of frames is grouped into groups, each group including one or more prior frames and one or more future frames of the same total light-energy.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an input via a user input device that selects a series of frames for playback in the playback mode and, in response thereto, plays back the selected frames from the buffer in a loop while allowing the at least one parameter affecting processing of said plurality of frames to be changed.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling an optoacoustic imaging system, comprising data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

generating a light event comprising of pulses of light at least two wavelengths;

generating a plurality of sinograms comprising a sampled optoacoustic return signal each responsive to a light event;

generating one or more ultrasound images;

processing and storing a plurality of frames in a buffer, each frame of the plurality of frames comprising data including;

a sinogram; and

an ultrasound image;

switching upon activation of a playback mode via a user input device, from a live mode wherein images generated from an acoustic return signal are displayed in real time to the playback mode wherein at least one image is generated from at least one of the plurality of frames;

causing, in response to receipt of an input via the user input device, at least one parameter affecting the processing of said plurality of frames into an output image displayed upon a display to be enabled during the playback mode such that the output image displayed varies from an image generated from the frame when the optoacoustic imaging system was in the live mode;

wherein, when the parameter is enabled, the output image displayed in playback mode is generated using interframe persistent artifact reduction processing;

wherein the interframe persistent artifact reduction processing is configured to be performed on each of the plurality of frames generated from the pulses of light for each of the at least two wavelengths; and

wherein each of the plurality of frames is grouped into groups, each group including one or more prior frames and one or more future frames of the same total light-energy.

13. An optoacoustic imaging system comprising:

a first light source capable of generating pulses of light at a first wavelength, and a second light source capable of generating pulses of light at a second wavelength;

a handheld probe having a distal end and a proximal end, the handheld probe comprising an optical window located at the distal end of the handheld probe, the optical window being in optical communication with the first light source and the second light source and capable to transmit the pulses of light to the tissue, and an ultrasound transducer array having an active end located at the distal end of the handheld probe, the ultrasound transducer array capable of receiving an acoustic return signal from the tissue;

a computing subsystem for generating images from said acoustic return signal, said computing subsystem being configured to process and store a plurality of frames in a buffer, each frame of the plurality of frames comprising data including a sinogram; and

an ultrasound image;

a display for displaying the images generated by the computing subsystem; and

a user input device;

the optoacoustic imaging system being configured, to switch upon actuation of a playback mode via the user input device, from a live mode wherein images from the acoustic return signal are displayed in real time to the playback mode wherein at least one image is generated from at least one of the plurality of frames

the optoacoustic imaging system further being configured such that at least one parameter affecting the processing of said plurality of frames into an output image displayed upon said display can be enabled during the playback mode such that the output image displayed varies from an image generated from the frame when the optoacoustic imaging system is not in the playback mode;

wherein, when the parameter is enabled, the output image displayed in playback mode is generated using interframe persistent artifact reduction processing;

wherein the interframe persistent artifact reduction processing is configured to be performed on each of the plurality of frames generated from the pulses of light for each of the first wavelengths and the second wavelength; and

wherein each of the plurality of frames is grouped into groups, each group including one or more prior frames and one or more future frames of the same total light-energy;

the optoacoustic imaging system further being configured to store in the buffer;

a plurality of frames used to generate a first real-time image among the plurality of the images displayed in real time; and

,

at least one other frame used to generate at least one playback mode image, the at least one other frame being a future frame received and stored after a real-time display of the first real-time image.