Medical Sciences Commons^™

Real-Time Three-Dimensional Photoacoustic Imaging, Michael B. Roumeliotis

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Photoacoustic imaging is a modality that combines the benefits of two prominent imaging techniques; the strong contrast inherent to optical imaging techniques with the enhanced penetration depth and resolution of ultrasound imaging. PA waves are generated by illuminating a light-absorbing object with a short laser pulse. The deposited energy causes a pressure change in the object and, consequently, an outwardly propagating acoustic wave. Images are produced by using characteristic optical information contained within the waves.

We have developed a 3D PA imaging system by using a staring, sparse array approach to produce real-time PA images. The technique employs the use …