Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a handheld device for optoacoustic imaging of an object and a corresponding method comprising an irradiation unit configured for irradiating the object with electromagnetic radiation, for example light, and a detector unit for detecting acoustic, for example ultrasonic, waves which are generated in the object upon irradiation with electromagnetic radiation. In order to facilitate three-dimensional multispectral imaging in real-time, which allows not only imaging of dynamic anatomical, functional and molecular phenomena in the object but also avoids multiple motion- and limited-view-related image artifacts and thus facilitates quantitative image acquisition, in some embodiments, the detector unit comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of detector elements which may be arranged along a first surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and an according method for hybrid optoacoustic and ultrasonographic imaging of an object (1), comprising an irradiation unit (2, 3) for irradiating the object (1) with electromagnetic radiation, in particular light, and a transducer unit (4) comprising a plurality of transducer elements (5), the transducer elements (5) being configured to emit ultrasound waves impinging on the object (1) and to detect ultrasound waves which are reflected and/or transmitted by the object (1) upon impinging on the object (1), and to detect ultrasound waves which are generated in the object (1) upon irradiation with electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transducer elements (1) are arranged along a curved line, in particular a concave line, or a curved surface, in particular a concave surface.

Abstract: The invention includes a device and a method for hybrid optoacoustic and ultrasonographic imaging of an object. The device comprises: an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the object with electromagnetic radiation; first transducer elements configured to detect ultrasound waves generated in the object upon irradiating the object with the electromagnetic radiation; second transducer elements configured to detect ultrasound waves reflected and/or transmitted by the object; a surface comprising at least one first surface segment, on which the first transducer elements are arranged, and at least one second surface segment, on which the second transducer elements are arranged. The first surface segment and/or the second surface segment have a curved shape. The first transducer elements have a first size and pitch and second transducer elements have a second size and pitch, wherein the first pitch and second pitch are different and/or the first size and second size are different.

Abstract: An imaging device configured for optoacoustic imaging of an object, including an illumination device including optical components arranged to illuminate the object, a detector device comprising an array of detector elements arranged in a tank and arranged to detect acoustic signals created in the object, and a container device including a tank arranged to accommodate the detector device, the object and a matching transmission medium, a holding device adapted to position and move the object relative to the illumination device and the detector device, wherein the optical components are arranged in the tank to illuminate the object from different directions.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus (100) for imaging an object (1) under investigation, in particular a biological object, comprises a light source device (10) arranged for an illumination of the object (1), a light detector device (20) arranged for detection of light emitted by the object (1) in response to the illumination of the object (1), an acoustic detector device (30) arranged for collecting acoustic signals generated in the object (1) in response to the illumination of the object (1), an image reconstruction device (40) arranged for reconstructing an optical image and an opto-acoustic image of the object (1), and a resolution adaptation device (50) being capable of adjusting imaging properties of the opto-acoustic image, said imaging properties including at least one of the spatial resolution and the imaging depth of the opto-acoustic image. Furthermore, an imaging method for imaging an object (1) under investigation, in particular a biological object, is described.

Abstract: An ultrasound detector adapted for ultrasound detection with medical applications includes an optical waveguide, and at least one Bragg grating, created with a predetermined refractive index modulation amplitude in the optical waveguide, wherein the at least one Bragg grating includes a localized defect in periodicity so that a localized-light resonance portion is formed around the defect, and the localized-light resonance portion has spectral properties capable of being modulated in response to an ultrasound oscillation, wherein the optical waveguide is a non-amplifying optical medium, and the refractive index modulation amplitude is selected such that the localized-light resonance portion is concentrated at the defect in periodicity and the ultrasound oscillation can be sensed by the at least one Bragg grating with an acoustic sensitivity most of which being obtained over the localized-light resonance portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and an according method for hybrid optoacoustic and ultrasonographic imaging of an object (1), comprising an irradiation unit (2, 3) for irradiating the object (1) with electromagnetic radiation, in particular light, and a transducer unit (4) comprising a plurality of transducer elements (5), the transducer elements (5) being configured to emit ultrasound waves impinging on the object (1) and to detect ultrasound waves which are reflected and/or transmitted by the object (1) upon impinging on the object (1), and to detect ultrasound waves which are generated in the object (1) upon irradiation with electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transducer elements (1) are arranged along a curved line, in particular a concave line, or a curved surface, in particular a concave surface.

Abstract: A method of multi-spectral opto-acoustic tomography (MSOT) imaging of a target tissue including a target tissue biomarker includes illuminating the target tissue with an illumination device emitting at least one pulsed illumination pattern at several illumination wavelengths, detecting pressure signals from the target tissue biomarker with a detector device, wherein the pressure signals being produced in the target tissue are in response to the illumination, and reconstructing a quantitative tomographic image of a distribution of the target tissue biomarker in the target tissue, wherein the pressure signals are analyzed using a photon propagation model which depends on an illuminating light fluence in the target tissue and on the illumination wavelengths, at least one spectral processing scheme, and an inversion scheme providing the tomographic image.

Abstract: The invention includes a device and a method for hybrid optoacoustic and ultrasonographic imaging of an object. The device comprises: an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the object with electromagnetic radiation; first transducer elements configured to detect ultrasound waves generated in the object upon irradiating the object with the electromagnetic radiation; second transducer elements configured to detect ultrasound waves reflected and/or transmitted by the object; a surface comprising at least one first surface segment, on which the first transducer elements are arranged, and at least one second surface segment, on which the second transducer elements are arranged. The first surface segment and/or the second surface segment have a curved shape. The first transducer elements have a first size and pitch and second transducer elements have a second size and pitch, wherein the first pitch and second pitch are different and/or the first size and second size are different.

Abstract: A method of thermoacoustic imaging of an object includes providing thermoacoustic signals representing a mechanical wave response to a delivery of electromagnetic energy into the imaged object, reconstructing an energy deposition image representing a local energy absorption within the object based on the thermoacoustic signals, and decomposing the energy deposition image into a quantitative absorption image representing a distribution of a local absorption coefficient in the object and at least one further image component.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus (100) for imaging an object (1) under investigation, in particular a biological object, comprises a light source device (10) arranged for an illumination of the object (1), a light detector device (20) arranged for detection of light emitted by the object (1) in response to the illumination of the object (1), an acoustic detector device (30) arranged for collecting acoustic signals generated in the object (1) in response to the illumination of the object (1), an image reconstruction device (40) arranged for reconstructing an optical image and an opto-acoustic image of the object (1), and a resolution adaptation device (50) being capable of adjusting imaging properties of the opto-acoustic image, said imaging properties including at least one of the spatial resolution and the imaging depth of the opto-acoustic image. Furthermore, an imaging method for imaging an object (1) under investigation, in particular a biological object, is described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a handheld device for optoacoustic imaging of an object and a corresponding method comprising an irradiation unit configured for irradiating the object with electromagnetic radiation, for example light, and a detector unit for detecting acoustic, for example ultrasonic, waves which are generated in the object upon irradiation with electromagnetic radiation. In order to facilitate three-dimensional multispectral imaging in real-time, which allows not only imaging of dynamic anatomical, functional and molecular phenomena in the object but also avoids multiple motion- and limited-view-related image artifacts and thus facilitates quantitative image acquisition, in some embodiments, the detector unit comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of detector elements which may be arranged along a first surface.

Abstract: An ultrasound detector adapted for ultrasound detection with medical applications includes an optical waveguide, and at least one Bragg grating, created with a predetermined refractive index modulation amplitude in the optical waveguide, wherein the at least one Bragg grating includes a localized defect in periodicity so that a localized-light resonance portion is formed around the defect, and the localized-light resonance portion has spectral properties capable of being modulated in response to an ultrasound oscillation, wherein the optical waveguide is a non-amplifying optical medium, and the refractive index modulation amplitude is selected such that the localized-light resonance portion is concentrated at the defect in periodicity and the ultrasound oscillation can be sensed by the at least one Bragg grating with an acoustic sensitivity most of which being obtained over the localized-light resonance portion.

Abstract: An imaging device configured for optoacoustic imaging of an object, including an illumination device including optical components arranged to illuminate the object, a detector device comprising an array of detector elements arranged in a tank and arranged to detect acoustic signals created in the object, and a container device including a tank arranged to accommodate the detector device, the object and a matching transmission medium, a holding device adapted to position and move the object relative to the illumination device and the detector device, wherein the optical components are arranged in the tank to illuminate the object from different directions.

Abstract: A method of thermoacoustic imaging of an object includes providing thermoacoustic signals representing a mechanical wave response to a delivery of electromagnetic energy into the imaged object, reconstructing an energy deposition image representing a local energy absorption within the object based on the thermoacoustic signals, and decomposing the energy deposition image into a quantitative absorption image representing a distribution of a local absorption coefficient in the object and at least one further image component.

Abstract: A method of multi-spectral opto-acoustic tomography (MSOT) imaging of a target tissue including a target tissue biomarker includes illuminating the target tissue with an illumination device emitting at least one pulsed illumination pattern at several illumination wavelengths, detecting pressure signals from the target tissue biomarker with a detector device, wherein the pressure signals being produced in the target tissue are in response to the illumination, and reconstructing a quantitative tomographic image of a distribution of the target tissue biomarker in the target tissue, wherein the pressure signals are analyzed using a photon propagation model which depends on an illuminating light fluence in the target tissue and on the illumination wavelengths, at least one spectral processing scheme, and an inversion scheme providing the tomographic image.

Abstract: The current invention provides a method for improving the sensitivity of bolometric detection by providing improved electromagnetic power/energy absorption. In addition to its role in significantly improving the performance of conventional conducting-film bolometric detection elements, the method suggests application of plasmon resonance absorption for efficient thermal detection and imaging of far-field radiation using the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and the herein introduced Cavity Plasmone Resonance (CPR) phenomena. The latter offers detection characteristics, including good frequency sensitivity, intrinsic spatial (angular) selectivity without focusing lenses, wide tunability over both infrared and visible light domains, high responsivity and miniaturization capabilities. As compared to SPR, the CPR-type devices offer an increased flexibility over wide ranges of wavelengths, bandwidths, and device dimensions.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal of a subject, includes digitally sampling an average signal from at least a first ECG electrode, determining an average interference frequency, and digitally sampling and buffering a raw ECG signal from at least a second ECG electrode. The method further includes: filtering the raw ECG signal to generate a residual signal; calculating, based on the residual signal, a first amplitude and a first phase shift of a primary interference signal at the average interference frequency and a second amplitude and a second phase shift of one or more harmonic interference signals at respective multiples of the average interference frequency; and digitally subtracting the primary interference signal and the one or more harmonic interference signals from the raw ECG signal so as to generate and output a clean ECG signal.

Abstract: A method of near-field imaging of a region of interest includes emitting an input of near-field electromagnetic radiofrequency energy from a near-field source device into the region of interest, detecting a mechanical wave response generated in the region of interest in response to the near-field electromagnetic energy input using a detector device, and providing image data representing an image of the region of interest based on the mechanical wave response.

Abstract: The current invention provides a devices methods and systems for efficient biosensing using the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Cavity Plasmon Resonance (CPR) phenomena. The miniature biosensor comprises a stratified structure having a channel for analyte form between a substrate and thin metallic absorber layer in which plasmon are resonantly excited. Presence of analyte in the channel, changes the resonance conditions, thus changing the energy absorbed by the biosensor. Bolometric signal from the absorber; layer or detection of the radiation not absorbed by the biosensor is used to detect, measure the concentration of, or monitor the analyte.