Frequency domain photoacoustic correlation (radar) imaging: a novel methodology for non-invasive imaging of biological tissues

Abstract

We report the development of a novel frequency-domain biomedical photoacoustic (PA) system that utilizes a continuous-wave laser source with a custom intensity modulation pattern for spatially-resolved imaging of biological tissues. The feasibility of using relatively long duration and low optical power laser sources for spatially-resolved PA imaging is presented. We demonstrate that B-mode PA imaging can be performed using an ultrasonic phased array coupled with multi-channel correlation processing and a frequency-domain beamforming algorithm. Application of the frequency-domain PA correlation methodology is shown using tissue-like phantoms with embedded optical contrast, tissue ex-vivo samples and a small animal model in-vivo.