Method for dual modality optoacoustic imaging
First Claim
1. A method for imaging tissue of at least a portion of a body, comprising:
- a) delivering ultrasonic pulses into the tissue and detecting backscattered ultrasonic signals reflected from structural tissue boundaries associated with body morphology;
b) sequentially delivering to the tissue at least two optical pulses having different spectral bands of electromagnetic energy and detecting transient ultrasonic signals resulting from selective absorption of each of the at least two optical pulses in hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin of blood contained in tissues;
c) processing detected ultrasonic signals to remove noise, to revert signal alterations in the course of signal propagation through tissue and through the detection system components, and to restore a temporal shape and ultrasonic spectrum of the detected ultrasonic signals, and further processing signals with a family of wavelets to generate individual subbands;
d) performing image reconstruction and further processing to generate morphological images of tissue structures coregistered and superimposed with partially transparent functional images reflecting total hemoglobin concentration and blood oxygen saturation, wherein image reconstruction and further processing comprises performing an adaptive beam-forming on each of the individual subbands, the adaptive beam-forming permitting reconstruction from individual adaptive reconstructions; and
,e) repeating steps a) through d) at a video frame rate such that real-time images display tissue functional and morphological changes as they occur.
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Abstract
A real-time imaging method that provides ultrasonic imaging and optoacoustic imaging coregistered through application of the same hand-held probe to generate and detect ultrasonic and optoacoustic signals. These signals are digitized, processed and used to reconstruct anatomical maps superimposed with maps of two functional parameters of blood hemoglobin index and blood oxygenation index. The blood hemoglobin index represents blood hemoglobin concentration changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background blood concentration. The blood oxygenation index represents blood oxygenation changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background level of blood oxygenation. These coregistered maps can be used to noninvasively differentiate malignant tumors from benign lumps and cysts.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for imaging tissue of at least a portion of a body, comprising:
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a) delivering ultrasonic pulses into the tissue and detecting backscattered ultrasonic signals reflected from structural tissue boundaries associated with body morphology; b) sequentially delivering to the tissue at least two optical pulses having different spectral bands of electromagnetic energy and detecting transient ultrasonic signals resulting from selective absorption of each of the at least two optical pulses in hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin of blood contained in tissues; c) processing detected ultrasonic signals to remove noise, to revert signal alterations in the course of signal propagation through tissue and through the detection system components, and to restore a temporal shape and ultrasonic spectrum of the detected ultrasonic signals, and further processing signals with a family of wavelets to generate individual subbands; d) performing image reconstruction and further processing to generate morphological images of tissue structures coregistered and superimposed with partially transparent functional images reflecting total hemoglobin concentration and blood oxygen saturation, wherein image reconstruction and further processing comprises performing an adaptive beam-forming on each of the individual subbands, the adaptive beam-forming permitting reconstruction from individual adaptive reconstructions; and
,e) repeating steps a) through d) at a video frame rate such that real-time images display tissue functional and morphological changes as they occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification