Abstract
A real-time 512-element photoacoustic tomography system for small animal imaging using a ring ultrasound array has been developed. The system, based upon a 5 MHz transducer array formed along a 50 mm circular aperture, achieves sub-200 micron lateral resolution over a 2 cm disk-shaped region. Corresponding elevation resolutions of 0.6 to 2.5 mm over the central volume enable depth-resolved 3D tomographic imaging with linear translation. Using 8:1 electronic multiplexing, imaging at up to 8 frame/sec is demonstrated for both dynamic phantoms and in vivo mouse and brain samples. The real-time, full 2D tomographic capability of the system paves the way for functional photoacoustic tomographic imaging studies in small animals with sub-second time frame.
Highlights
In recent years, biomedical photoacoustic imaging has demonstrated great potential for investigation of skin disorders [1,2], rheumatoid arthritis [3], brain vasculature [4,5], and cancerous lesions in the breast [6] and prostate [7]
We previously reported a 128-channel photoacoustic imaging system optimized for small animal imaging [15]
The optimization of geometry and resolution for imaging of small animals provides a powerful platform for development and investigation of techniques for dynamic functional imaging
Summary
Biomedical photoacoustic imaging has demonstrated great potential for investigation of skin disorders [1,2], rheumatoid arthritis [3], brain vasculature [4,5], and cancerous lesions in the breast [6] and prostate [7]. Tomographic systems, by offering complete angular views of the imaging target, overcome these limitations and provide both high resolution and accurate feature definition regardless of shape or location. Because of the large measurement surface, tomographic imaging has traditionally been demonstrated using mechanically scanned single or linear transducers. Field of view in less than one second, but required sample rotation for complete tomographic imaging. The increased scan time (15–30 seconds) and registration errors associated with the mechanical rotation prevented imaging of short-duration physiological responses and introduced some distortion of the high-resolution (< 200 μm) images. By eliminating the speed and registration issues due to mechanical scanning and increasing the parallel receiver electronics, the system achieves, for the first time, a complete two-dimensional tomographic imaging in less than one second. The capabilities of the system are explored through ex vivo and in vivo imaging of mouse brain vasculature at up to 8 tomographic frames/second
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