Abstract: Photoacoustic imaging is enhanced by scanning (61) the sensor array (10) used in photoacoustic imaging laterally relative to the tissue being imaged, gathering multiple tissue images (70, 71, 72, 73) at multiple relative lateral positions, and generating a photoacoustic image (80) of the tissue by combining the images taken at multiple relative lateral positions.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic imaging system including an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, a coupling media for acoustically coupling the response to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array. The array comprises sensors arranged on a surface, which is rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting the thermoacoustic response. The angular extent of the surface about the axis, subtends an angle that is less than a full revolution, streamlining the device and permitting flexibility in positioning the radiation source and other elements of the device. The source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the tissue is a plurality of sources arranged about the tissue and producing synchronized electromagnetic radiation in varying polarizations or phases to irradiate said tissue with electromagnetic radiation of a desired polarization.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic imaging system including an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, a coupling media for acoustically coupling the response to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array. The array comprises sensors arranged on a surface, which is rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting the thermoacoustic response. The angular extent of the surface about the axis, subtends an angle that is less than a full revolution, streamlining the device and permitting flexibility in positioning the radiation source and other elements of the device. The source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the tissue is a plurality of sources arranged about the tissue and producing synchronized electromagnetic radiation in varying polarizations or phases to irradiate said tissue with electromagnetic radiation of a desired polarization.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic imaging system including an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, a coupling media for acoustically coupling the response to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array. The array comprises sensors arranged on a surface, which is rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting the thermoacoustic response. The angular extent of the surface about the axis, subtends an angle that is less than a full revolution, streamlining the device and permitting flexibility in positioning the radiation source and other elements of the device. The source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the tissue is a plurality of sources arranged about the tissue and producing synchronized electromagnetic radiation in varying polarizations or phases to irradiate said tissue with electromagnetic radiation of a desired polarization.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. Multiple acoustic transducers are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. In specific embodiments, the transducers are moved to collect data from multiple locations, to facilitate imaging. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated. Also, specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. Multiple acoustic transducers are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. In specific embodiments, the transducers are moved to collect data from multiple locations, to facilitate imaging. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated. Also, specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. Multiple acoustic transducers arranged on an rotatable imaging bowl are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. Specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated, and noise reduction techniques are described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues (12) in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves 26. Multiple acoustic transducers (33) are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. In specific embodiments, the transducers are moved to collect data from multiple locations, to facilitate imaging. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated. Also, specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. The tissue is exposed to modulating electromagnetic radiation, to produce modulating acoustic signals. The modulating acoustic signals are detected by an acoustic sensor which is primarily sensitive to acoustic radiation at a focal point distant from said sensor. Multiple measurements from multiple different focal points can then be combined into an image, or measurements at the same focal point at different excitation frequencies can be combined to produce an absorptivity spectrum for the tissue, either of which may be used for medical diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. Multiple acoustic transducers are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. In specific embodiments, the transducers are moved to collect data from multiple locations, to facilitate imaging. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated. Also, specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals.