ACOUSTIC IMAGING PROBE INCORPORATING PHOTOACOUSTIC EXCITATION

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a photoacoustic imaging probe for use in a photoacoustic imaging system, said probe comprising a cohesive composite acoustic lens incorporating aspheric geometry and exhibiting low or practically no measurable dispersion of acoustic waves constructed of at least one material with a low acoustic impedance and attenuation and a relatively low acoustic velocity and at least one other material with a low acoustic impedance and attenuation and a relatively high acoustic velocity is immersed in preferably a low acoustic velocity and low acoustic impedance fluid. The lens may be designed as a single cohesive composite telecentric lens, an acoustic zoom lens, or a catadioptric lens. The lens focuses acoustic waves on an acoustic imager which detects the image. The lens may be considered to be essentially monochromatic.