Hybrid optoacoustic and ultrasonic imaging system for detection of prostate malignancies

Abstract

Ultrasound imaging is the current gold standard for guiding biopsy of prostate. Optoacoustic imaging yields higher contrast in detection of malignant tissues. The two techniques provide complementary information. We are currently developing a hybrid laser optoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system for prostate tumor detection (LOUIS-P). The optoacoustic part consists of a fiber-coupled Q-switched laser operating at either 757 nm or 1064 nm attached to a commercially-available 128-channel ultrasonic probe modified for optimal detection of optoacoustic signals, a digital signal processor with 128 independent channels, and software that uses the radial (filtered) backprojection algorithm to reconstruct tomographic images. We evaluated system-imaging performance using test objects submerged in milky water, and poly(vinyl-chloride) plastisol tissue phantoms simulating malignant lesions. LOUIS-P demonstrates potential as a clinical technique for minimally invasive imaging and diagnosis of prostate cancer.