Acousto-optic harmonic imaging with optical sensors
Inventors
Miller, Scott A. • Zhao, Danhua • Yang, Lan • Zhu, Jiangang
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12310699-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
An acousto-optic imaging system may include at least one transducer that transmits an ultrasound signal having a fundamental frequency f. The acousto-optic imaging system includes at least one optical sensor that may produce one or more optical responses upon receiving harmonic-related ultrasound echoes corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signal. For example, the one or more optical sensors may have a bandwidth ranging from at least f/M to Nf, where M and N are integers greater than 1.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an acousto-optic imaging system that uses an ultrasound probe including at least one transducer and at least one optical sensor, where the at least one optical sensor comprises ultrasound enhancement material. The transducer is configured to transmit an ultrasound signal having a fundamental frequency f to a medium, and the optical sensor is configured to produce one or more optical responses upon receiving harmonic and subharmonic ultrasound echoes corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signal from the medium.
A core refinement is that the optical sensor has a bandwidth greater than that of the transducer, with the bandwidth of the optical sensor ranging from at least f/M to Nf, where M and N are integers greater than 1. This bandwidth constraint supports producing optical responses associated with harmonic and subharmonic ultrasound echoes, and it is recited in both system and method forms.
In method embodiments, the invention further includes detecting one or more changes in the optical responses via one or more optical detectors and generating an image of the medium based on the detected changes in the optical response. In related refinements, the optical response changes are described in terms of a spectral shift, and the spectral resonance features are described using full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) relative to the spectral shift.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims: an acousto-optic imaging system, and two methods of acousto-optic imaging. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features include an ultrasound probe that combines transducers with optical sensors containing ultrasound enhancement material, harmonic/subharmonic echo-driven optical responses, and an optical sensor bandwidth greater than the transducer bandwidth constrained to at least f/M up to Nf (M,N>1).
Harmonic and subharmonic echo-driven optical responses with higher optical sensor bandwidth
Producing one or more optical responses upon receiving harmonic and subharmonic ultrasound echoes, corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signal, from the medium, the at least one optical sensor having a bandwidth greater than that of the at least one transducer, the bandwidth of the at least one optical sensor ranging from at least f/M to Nf, M and N being integers greater than 1.
Ultrasound probe with transducer and optical sensor comprising ultrasound enhancement material
An ultrasound probe, comprising at least one transducer and at least one optical sensor, at least one optical sensor comprising ultrasound enhancement material.
Image generation from changes in optical responses
Detecting at least one change in the one or more optical responses via one or more optical detectors; and generating an image of the medium based on the at least one change in the optical response.
Ultra-harmonic, super-harmonic, and subharmonic echo frequencies
Producing one or more optical responses via the at least one optical sensor upon receiving ultrasound echoes, corresponding to the ultrasound signal, from the medium, the received ultrasound echoes having a super-harmonic frequency, a subharmonic frequency and an ultra-harmonic frequency, the at least one optical sensor having a bandwidth greater than that of the one or more transducers, the bandwidth of the at least one optical sensor ranging from at least f/M to Nf, M and N being integers greater than 1.
Spectral-shift image generation with spectral resonance feature FWHM constraint
Generating an image from changes in optical sensor responses, where the changes represent a spectral shift characterized by spectral resonance features with FWHM smaller than the spectral shift.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on acousto-optic imaging using a probe that transmits ultrasound at a fundamental frequency f and produces optical responses from harmonic-related ultrasound echoes, while ensuring the optical sensor bandwidth exceeds the transducer bandwidth and is limited to a range from at least f/M to Nf with M and N integers greater than 1. The independent method claims further specify detecting changes in optical responses via optical detectors and generating images from those changes, including echo frequency components spanning super-harmonic, subharmonic, and ultra-harmonic frequencies.
Stated Advantages
Improved penetration
Improved resolution
Improved contrast
Fewer artifacts
Reduced complexity via fewer probes
Documented Applications
Acousto-optic imaging of a medium using harmonic and subharmonic ultrasound echo-driven optical responses, including embodiments involving biological tissue as a non-linear medium.
Harmonic imaging modalities including THI, SHI, UHI, subharmonic, and DTHI as described in the provided summary context.
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