Omnidirectional photoacoustic tomography system
Inventors
Avrutsky, Ivan • Mehrmohammadi, Mohammad
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12369799-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
A photoacoustic tomography system includes a first ring-shaped mirror having a central axis therethrough and configured to converge light inwardly towards the central axis and a subject, and an adjustment mechanism configured to move the first ring-shaped mirror along the central axis to a plurality of different positions. Each position of the plurality of different positions allows the first ring-shaped mirror to illuminate a respective ring of light around a respective portion of the subject, and an acoustic signal detector is movable along the central axis such that acoustic signals can be detected from the respective portion of the subject when illuminated by the first ring-shaped mirror while at each respective position of the plurality of different positions.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes an omnidirectional photoacoustic tomography system using an all-reflective, ring-shaped illumination formed by a coaxial mirror arrangement. A first ring-shaped mirror radially outward-reflects an incoming collimated beam over 360°, and a second ring-shaped mirror redirects the light to a light cylinder around a central axis. An axially movable third ring-shaped mirror converts the light cylinder into a converging ring light cone, providing 30°–80° total angular coverage.
A closed-geometry ring ultrasound transducer provides omnidirectional acoustic detection and distance determination along the central axis. Distance is determined relative to an object portion when the optical ring illumination is at corresponding positions along the central axis, and the determined distance is used to adjust light intensity and relative axial positions for scanning different axial slices and portions. The system includes an adjustment mechanism moving ring-shaped mirror components along the central axis and an associated distance detector.
The system is implemented with a transparent mounting platform and an optional optical filter, with a water-filled container in which the relevant components are positioned for operation. A prototype phantom study is described using tissue-mimicking phantom components, with relatively uniform normalized photoacoustic signal reported between about 10–22 mm depth and disappearance beyond about 25 mm. The disclosure further states that quantitative photoacoustic imaging can be supported using speed-of-sound maps and acoustic-attenuation maps for reconstruction compensation.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are identified: clm-00001 and clm-00010. Across these claims, the inventive features focus on a movable first ring-shaped mirror that illuminates different ring-shaped portions at different axial positions and distance detection and/or acoustic detection using movable detectors, including a ring-shaped ultrasound transducer, with distance-dependent light intensity adjustment.
Movable ring-shaped mirror to illuminate different ring circumferences
A first ring-shaped mirror having a central axis through an opening and configured to converge light inwardly towards the central axis, wherein an adjustment mechanism moves the first ring-shaped mirror along the central axis to direct a first ring of light around a first circumference of a first portion, a second ring of light around a second circumference of a second portion, and a third ring of light around a third circumference of a third portion.
Distance detector for distances at respective mirror positions with distance-dependent light intensity adjustment
A distance detector to determine a first distance, a second distance, and a third distance between corresponding subject portions and the distance detector when the first ring-shaped mirror is at the first, second, and third positions, wherein the system adjusts light intensity when the first ring-shaped mirror is at each of the first, second, and third positions based on the respective distances.
Axially positioned ring illumination for different object portions and movable acoustic signal detector
A photoacoustic tomography system having a first ring-shaped mirror configured to converge light inwardly towards the central axis and an object along the central axis, an adjustment mechanism moving the first ring-shaped mirror along the central axis to a plurality of positions so that each position illuminates a respective ring of light around a respective portion of the object, wherein each respective portion is at a different position along the central axis.
Acoustic signal detection from respective illuminated portions using an acoustic detector movable along the central axis
An acoustic signal detector movable along the central axis such that acoustic signals can be detected from the respective portion of the object when illuminated by the first ring-shaped mirror.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on moving a ring-shaped optical component along a central axis to illuminate different ring-shaped object portions, and using distance and/or acoustic detection, optionally consolidated in a ring-shaped ultrasound transducer, with distance-dependent adjustment of light intensity for photoacoustic tomography.
Stated Advantages
No breast compression.
Improved penetration and illumination uniformity.
Potential quantitative imaging using speed-of-sound maps and acoustic-attenuation maps for reconstruction compensation.
Documented Applications
Breast tissue scanning.
Prototype phantom study for photoacoustic signal uniformity with described phantom materials and measured depth performance.
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