Ultrasound-modulated Signals Research Articles

Ultrasound modulated optical tomography contrast enhancement with non-linear oscillation of microbubbles.

Ultrasound modulated optical tomography (USMOT) is an imaging technique used to provide optical functional information inside highly scattering biological tissue. One of the challenges facing this technique is the low image contrast. A contrast enhancement imaging technique based on the non-linear oscillation of microbubbles is demonstrated to improve image contrast. The ultrasound modulated signal was detected using a laser pulse based speckle contrast detection system. Better understanding of the effects of microbubbles on the optical signals was achieved through simultaneous measurement of the ultrasound scattered by the microbubbles. The length of the laser pulse was found to affect the system response of the speckle contrast method with shorter pulses suppressing the fundamental ultrasound modulated optical signal. Using this property, image contrast can be enhanced by detection of the higher harmonic ultrasound modulated optical signals due to nonlinear oscillation and destruction of the microbubbles. Experimental investigations were carried out to demonstrate a doubling in contrast by imaging a scattering phantom containing an embedded silicone tube with microbubbles flowing through it. The contrast enhancement in USMOT resulting from the use of ultrasound microbubbles has been demonstrated. Destruction of the microbubbles was shown to be the dominant effect leading to contrast improvement as shown by simultaneously detecting the ultrasound and speckle contrast signals. Line scans of a microbubble filled silicone tube embedded in a scattering phantom demonstrated experimentally the significant image contrast improvement that can be achieved using microbubbles and demonstrates the potential as a future clinical imaging tool.

Noninvasive blood glucose measurement by ultrasound-modulated optical technique

We present a method for the noninvasive measurement of blood glucose levels, which are determined by the ultrasound-modulated optical technique. The method is based on the optical scattering coefficient. A sensitivity analysis of the ultrasound-modulated light signals in a scattering medium is conducted. Glucose concentrations in intralipid and hemoglobin solutions are measured using the modulation depth of ultrasound-modulated scattered light. The effects of incident light intensity and sample temperature on the ultrasound-modulated signals are also estimated. Preliminary experimental results suggest that the proposed method is a promising technique for noninvasive blood glucose measurement.

Multi-optical-wavelength ultrasound-modulated optical tomography: a phantom study

We used multiple optical wavelengths to study ultrasound-modulated optical tomography (UOT) in tissue phantoms. By using intense acoustic bursts and a CCD camera-based speckle contrast detection technique, we observed variations of the ultrasound-modulated signal at various optical absorptions. The experimental variations were found to be highly correlated with predictions from Monte Carlo simulations. By irradiating the sample at two optical wavelengths, we quantitatively estimated the total concentration and the concentration ratio of double dyes in objects embedded in tissue phantoms. The results suggest that UOT can potentially provide noninvasive functional imaging of the total concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in biological tissue.

Detection of ultrasound-modulated photons in diffuse media using the photorefractive effect

Ultrasound-modulated optical tomography is a dual-wave sensing technique in which diffusive light in a turbid medium interacts with an imposed acoustic field. A phase-modulated photon field emanates from the interaction region and carries with it information about the optomechanical properties of the medium. We present a technique for detection of ultrasound-induced optical phase modulation using an adaptive, photorefractive-crystal-based interferometry system. Experimental results are presented demonstrating detection of ultrasound-modulated signals in highly scattering media by use of pulsed ultrasound insonation.