Abstract: Methods and system are described for multi-modal, multi-parametric, non-invasive, and real-time assessment of cervical tissue through a multi-modal probe device for use within a vaginal canal and an associated imaging system to assess a risk of preterm delivery of an expectant mother. The multi-modal system may include ultrasound (US) imaging, viscoelastic (VE) imaging, and/or photoacoustic (PA) imaging of the cervical issue to determine cervical biomarker information indicative of parameters including, but not limited to, a collagen to water ratio such that a more water dominant ratio is indicative of a risk of preterm delivery.

Abstract: Methods and system are described for multi-modal, multi-parametric, non-invasive, and real-time assessment of cervical tissue through a multi-modal probe device for use within a vaginal canal and an associated imaging system to assess a risk of preterm delivery of an expectant mother. The multi-modal system may include ultrasound (US) imaging, viscoelastic (VE) imaging, and/or photoacoustic (PA) imaging of the cervical issue to determine cervical biomarker information indicative of parameters including, but not limited to, a collagen to water ratio such that a more water dominant ratio is indicative of a risk of preterm delivery.

Abstract: A photoacoustic tomography system includes a first ring-shaped mirror having a central axis therethrough and configured to converge light inwardly towards the central axis and a subject, and an adjustment mechanism configured to move the first ring-shaped mirror along the central axis to a plurality of different positions. Each position of the plurality of different positions allows the first ring-shaped mirror to illuminate a respective ring of light around a respective portion of the subject, and an acoustic signal detector is movable along the central axis such that acoustic signals can be detected from the respective portion of the subject when illuminated by the first ring-shaped mirror while at each respective position of the plurality of different positions.

Abstract: Methods and system are described for multi-parametric, non-invasive, and real-time assessment of blood perfusion and oxygenation in the fetal brain during labor and delivery of a fetus through a vaginal birth canal of a maternal pelvis, and include positioning a probe device in the maternal pelvis during active labor, transmitting and receiving a plurality of ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic (PA) signals between the probe device and fetal brain, displaying in real-time on an US machine communicatively coupled to the probe device one or more images of venous and arterial blood flow of respective blood vessels in the fetal brain, measuring oxygen saturation of the respective venous and arterial blood vessels based on data from the one or more images, and estimating the oxygen measurement in the fetal brain during active labor based on the measured oxygen saturation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic photoacoustic tomography system includes a mirror arrangement configured to redirect an incoming light beam defining a central axis such that the mirror arrangement reflects the incoming light beam to form a converging ring-shaped light beam. This converging ring-shaped light beam directs light originating from the incoming light beam radially inward covering a 360° circumferential range around the central axis. A closed-geometry acoustic detector is configured to pick up reactive sound waves from tissue irradiated by the converging ring-shaped light beam over the 360° circumferential range.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an ablation procedure in a target tissue includes a first light source for delivering light to the target tissue to generate photoacoustic signals and a second light source for delivering light to the target tissue for ablation therapy. The system further includes a beam mixer for receiving light from the first and second light sources to create a combined light beam. An ablation catheter including a single optical fiber receives the combined light beam from the beam mixer, wherein the combined light beam is emitted from a tip of the ablation catheter to perform simultaneous ablation therapy and photoacoustic monitoring of the ablation procedure in the target tissue in real time.

Abstract: Methods and system are described for multi-modal, multi-parametric, non-invasive, and real-time assessment of cervical tissue through a multi-modal probe device for use within a vaginal canal and an associated imaging system to assess a risk of preterm delivery of an expectant mother. The multi-modal system may include ultrasound (US) imaging, viscoelastic (VE) imaging, and/or photoacoustic (PA) imaging of the cervical issue to determine cervical biomarker information indicative of parameters including, but not limited to, a collagen to water ratio such that a more water dominant ratio is indicative of a risk of preterm delivery.

Abstract: Methods and system are described for multi-parametric, non-invasive, and real-time assessment of blood perfusion and oxygenation in the fetal brain during labor and delivery of a fetus through a vaginal birth canal of a maternal pelvis, and include positioning a probe device in the maternal pelvis during active labor, transmitting and receiving a plurality of ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic (PA) signals between the probe device and fetal brain, displaying in real-time on an US machine communicatively coupled to the probe device one or more images of venous and arterial blood flow of respective blood vessels in the fetal brain, measuring oxygen saturation of the respective venous and arterial blood vessels based on data from the one or more images, and estimating the oxygen measurement in the fetal brain during active labor based on the measured oxygen saturation.