Open AccessHigh resolution three-dimensional photoacoustic tomography with CCD-camera based ultrasound detection
Author(s) -
Robert Nuster,
Paul Slezak,
Guenther Paltauf
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
biomedical optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.362
H-Index - 86
ISSN - 2156-7085
DOI - 10.1364/boe.5.002635
Subject(s) - radon transform , optics , photoacoustic doppler effect , tomography , iterative reconstruction , image resolution , projection (relational algebra) , materials science , fourier transform , ultrasound , diffuse optical imaging , preclinical imaging , resolution (logic) , photoacoustic imaging in biomedicine , physics , computer vision , computer science , artificial intelligence , acoustics , in vivo , algorithm , microbiology and biotechnology , quantum mechanics , biology
A photoacoustic tomograph based on optical ultrasound detection is demonstrated, which is capable of high resolution real-time projection imaging and fast three-dimensional (3D) imaging. Snapshots of the pressure field outside the imaged object are taken at defined delay times after photoacoustic excitation by use of a charge coupled device (CCD) camera in combination with an optical phase contrast method. From the obtained wave patterns photoacoustic projection images are reconstructed using a back propagation Fourier domain reconstruction algorithm. Applying the inverse Radon transform to a set of projections recorded over a half rotation of the sample provides 3D photoacoustic tomography images in less than one minute with a resolution below 100 µm. The sensitivity of the device was experimentally determined to be 5.1 kPa over a projection length of 1 mm. In vivo images of the vasculature of a mouse demonstrate the potential of the developed method for biomedical applications.