Real-time photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system and method

Inventors

O'Donnell, Matthew • Nguyen, Thu-Mai • Wei, Chen-Wei • Xia, Jinjun • Pelivanov, Ivan • Yoon, Soon Joon

Assignees

WASHINGTON, University of • University of Washington

Abstract

Methods and system for producing combined photoacoustic/ultrasonic image frames use a low-power narrow beam laser to direct sequential pulses along a path overlying an internal region of interest. Photoacoustic responses are received and used to generate sub-frames. Between each of the laser pulses a plurality of ultrasound pulse-echo beams are sequentially emitted towards the region of interest, and the reflections are received and used to generate ultrasound sub-frames. The photoacoustic sub-frames are combined to produce a photoacoustic frame, and the ultrasound sub-frames are combined to produce an ultrasound frame. The photoacoustic and ultrasound frames are combined to produce an image frame. The method and system are suitable for producing real-time, high-contrast video.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a method for generating a combined photoacoustic and ultrasound image frame of an internal region of a body having an external surface. The method performs, in sequence, illumination and acquisition operations to generate an image frame of the internal region. A first location on the external surface is irradiated with a first laser pulse, and a first photoacoustic response is received to generate a first photoacoustic sub-frame of the internal region.

The method sequentially transmits a first plurality of ultrasound pulse-echo beams to scan the first section of the internal region and receives a first set of ultrasound reflections of the first plurality of ultrasound pulse-echo beams. The received first set of ultrasound reflections is used to generate a first set of ultrasound sub-frames of the internal region. A second location on the external surface, different from the first location, is irradiated with a second laser pulse such that the second laser pulse irradiates a second section of the internal region, and a second photoacoustic response is received to generate a second photoacoustic sub-frame.

A second set of ultrasound sub-frames is generated by transmitting and receiving corresponding ultrasound pulse-echo beams and reflections. After generating the first and second photoacoustic sub-frames and the first and second sets of ultrasound sub-frames, the method combines the photoacoustic sub-frames to generate a photoacoustic frame and combines the ultrasound sub-frames to generate an ultrasound frame. The photoacoustic frame and the ultrasound frame are then combined to generate the image frame of the internal region of the body.

Claims Coverage

The included material identifies one independent claim and centers on sequential generation of combined photoacoustic and ultrasound image frames from two different sections of an internal region.

The claim coverage focuses on a two-location sequential approach that generates photoacoustic sub-frames and ultrasound sub-frames for different internal sections and then combines them into a combined photoacoustic and ultrasound image frame.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications