Photosound Technologies, Inc.

Other

Vassili Ivanov

Sergey A Ermilov

Hans-Peter Brecht

Disclosed is the electronic architecture, including component arrangement and use of switches, and power saving method for use in a dual mode USTA instrumentation. In an embodiment, the instrument architecture includes US and TA analog components, including a transducer, TA preamplifier, pulser, switches, and AFE (or ADC with programmable amplifier) arranged in a way which allows efficient usage of the same transducer elements, electronic components, wiring, and AFE channels in both US and TA modalities. The operation with fast power control over the TA preamplifier is described, which allows turning off the TA preamplifier power between TA measurements cycles with or without US measurement between TA measurements. TA preamplifier energy saving allows such designs to reduce TA preamplifier power consumption many times, which enables TA preamplifier integration inside transducer housing or probe housing, and/or the use of the TA preamplifier in portable battery-operated or hand-held devices.

Serial architecture and energy saving methods for ultrasound and thermoacoustic systems

Disclosed are instruments and methods for acquiring co-registered orthogonal fluorescence and photoacoustic volumetric projections of an interrogated object. In an embodiment, an instrument includes a rotary mechanism configured to rotate an interrogated object relative to an array of photoacoustic transducers and an optical detector. An optical excitation unit is configured to irradiate the interrogated object with pulses of light, inducing both fluorescence and photoacoustic responses inside the interrogated object at each of a plurality of rotational positions. The array of photoacoustic transducers includes unfocused elements arranged in a pattern along an axis of rotation, the elements configured to detect photoacoustic signals generated inside the volume of the interrogated object. The optical detector is arranged opposite to the array of photoacoustic transducers with respect to the axis of rotation and is configured to register sources of fluorescence excited inside the interrogated object. Each of the optical excitation axes form with each of the optical detection axes, and with each of the photoacoustic detection axes, angles that are between 60&#xb0; and 90&#xb0; so as to enable acquisition of co-registered orthogonal fluorescence and photoacoustic volumetric projections of the interrogated object.

Instrument for acquiring co-registered orthogonal fluorescence and photoacoustic volumetric projections of tissue and methods of its use

Disclosed are instruments and methods for acquiring co-registered orthogonal fluorescence and photoacoustic volumetric projections of an interrogated object. In an embodiment, an instrument includes an imaging tank filled with a liquid coupling medium. An object positioning mechanism is configured to position the interrogated object inside the coupling medium and to rotate the interrogated object. An optical excitation unit that is fixed with respect to the tank is configured to induce both fluorescence and photoacoustic responses inside the interrogated object using the same optical excitation spectrum and the same irradiation pattern at the surface of the interrogated object. An array of unfocused photoacoustic transducers is fixed with respect to the tank, and each element of the array is configured to detect photoacoustic signals generated inside the interrogated object. The array is arranged such that a plane connecting the rotation axis and a central portion of the array cuts through the interrogated object separating the two sides irradiated by the optical excitation unit. An optical detector that is fixed with respect to the tank is configured to register planar projections of sources of fluorescence generated inside the object. A data acquisition unit is configured to synchronize acquisition of photoacoustic data, acquisition of fluorescence data, optical excitation, and rotational position of the interrogated object.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Vassili Ivanov