Integrated ultrasound and photoacoustic probe for co-registered intravascular imaging

J Biomed Opt. 2011 Oct;16(10):106001. doi: 10.1117/1.3631798.

Abstract

We report on the synergy of an integrated ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic (PA) probe system for intravascular imaging. The combined dual-modality probe is based on a 39 MHz ring-shaped US transducer which detects both US echoes and laser-generated PA signals. By combining optical fiber, US transducer, and micromirror, we can obtain intravascular cross-sectional B-scan images by internal illumination of the sample. The performance of the probe is evaluated in a phantom study. Moreover, the coaxially designed probe also provides co-registered US and PA images of a normal rabbit aorta, which demonstrates the imaging ability of the dual-functional system, implying future clinical applications.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / anatomy & histology
  • Aorta / diagnostic imaging
  • Blood Vessels / anatomy & histology*
  • Blood Vessels / diagnostic imaging*
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Lasers, Solid-State
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Photoacoustic Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Rabbits
  • Ultrasonography / instrumentation*