Dual frequency comb portable photoacoustic imaging device for non-invasive medical imaging and associated methods
Inventors
Zakaria, Ryadh • Hoyt, Chad • Atit, Manan • SHAFAI, Moin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12635888-B2
Publication Date
2026-05-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, a device for non-invasive medical imaging is provided. In some embodiments, the device comprises a photonic integrated circuit scale dual frequency comb (DFC), a hand-held wand, and at least one processing element. The wand comprises at least one emission point for emitting light from the DFC at a plurality of different wavelengths and at least three sensors. The wand directs the emitted light at one or more bodily structures. The sensors are adapted to detect acoustic waves from thermo-elastic changes in one or more elements within the bodily structures. The processing element is for generating an optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves, identifying one or more elements within the bodily structures based on the optical absorption spectrum, and generating a three-dimensional image of the elements based on the optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a device for non-invasive medical imaging that uses a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-scale dual frequency comb (DFC) and a hand-held wand with a plurality of emission points. The wand emits light simultaneously from a first emission point at a first frequency and a second emission point at a second frequency from the PIC-scale DFC, and is adapted to direct the emitted light at one or more bodily structures exposed to the emitted light.
The hand-held wand includes a plurality of groups of at least three sensors, with a first group placed corresponding to the first emission point and a second group placed corresponding to the second emission point. Each sensor group is physically distinct and spatially isolated from other sensor groups, and each group is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in response to the emitted light at its corresponding frequency.
At least one processing element generates an optical absorption spectrum based on the detected acoustic waves from each of the groups of at least three sensors. The processing element identifies at least one of the one or more elements within the one or more bodily structures based on the optical absorption spectrum, and generates a three-dimensional (3-D) image of the one or more elements based on the optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves from each of the groups of at least three sensors.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to a handheld non-invasive medical imaging device and a method for non-invasive medical imaging. The inventive coverage centers on PIC-scale dual frequency comb light emission, frequency-aligned and spatially isolated sensor-group acoustic detection, and spectrum-based element identification with 3-D imaging.
PIC-scale dual frequency comb for frequency-specific emission and imaging
The device comprises a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-scale dual frequency comb (DFC) and a hand-held wand comprising a plurality of emission points for emitting light simultaneously from a first emission point at a first frequency and a second emission point at a second frequency from the PIC-scale DFC, wherein the hand-held wand is adapted to direct the emitted light at one or more bodily structures.
Physically distinct and spatially isolated sensor groups aligned to emission points
The hand-held wand comprises a plurality of groups of at least three sensors, where a first group of the at least three sensors is placed corresponding to the first emission point and a second group of the at least three sensors is placed corresponding to the second emission point, with each sensor group physically distinct and spatially isolated from other sensor groups; the first group is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in response to the emitted light at the first frequency and the second group is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in response to the emitted light at the second frequency.
Optical absorption spectrum generation to identify elements and form a 3-D image
At least one processing element generates an optical absorption spectrum based on the detected acoustic waves from each of the groups of at least three sensors; identifies at least one of the one or more elements within the one or more bodily structures based on the optical absorption spectrum; and generates a three-dimensional (3-D) image of the one or more elements based on the optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves from each of the groups of at least three sensors.
Simultaneous dual-frequency comb emission and spectrum-based element identification
The method comprises emitting light simultaneously from a first emission point at a first frequency and a second emission point at a second frequency from a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-scale dual frequency comb (DFC) via a hand-held device directed at one or more bodily structures; detecting acoustic waves from thermo-elastic changes in at least one or more elements within the one or more bodily structures exposed to the emitted light from the first emission point and the second emission point via a plurality of groups of at least three sensors with frequency-aligned, physically distinct, spatially isolated groups; generating an optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves; and identifying at least one of the one or more elements within the one or more bodily structures based on the optical absorption spectrum.
Across the independent claims, coverage is concentrated on combining PIC-scale dual frequency comb emission with spatially isolated sensor groups tied to respective emission frequencies, producing an optical absorption spectrum from the detected thermo-elastic acoustic waves, and using the spectrum to identify elements and generate imaging outputs including a three-dimensional (3-D) image.
Stated Advantages
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