Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Provided herein are the systems, methods, components for a three-dimensional tomography system. The system is a dual-modality imaging system that incorporates a laser ultrasonic system and a laser optoacoustic system. The dual-modality imaging system generates tomographic images of a volume of interest in a subject body based on speed of sound, ultrasound attenuation and/or ultrasound backscattering and for generating optoacoustic tomographic images of distribution of the optical absorption coefficient in the subject body based on absorbed optical energy density or various quantitative parameters derivable therefrom. Also provided is a method for increasing contrast, resolution and accuracy of quantitative information obtained within a subject utilizing the dual-modality imaging system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Provided herein are the systems, methods, components for a three-dimensional tomography system. The system is a dual-modality imaging system that incorporates a laser ultrasonic system and a laser optoacoustic system. The dual-modality imaging system generates tomographic images of a volume of interest in a subject body based on speed of sound, ultrasound attenuation and/or ultrasound backscattering and for generating optoacoustic tomographic images of distribution of the optical absorption coefficient in the subject body based on absorbed optical energy density or various quantitative parameters derivable therefrom. Also provided is a method for increasing contrast, resolution and accuracy of quantitative information obtained within a subject utilizing the dual-modality imaging system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A real-time imaging system that provides ultrasonic imaging and optoacoustic imaging coregistered through application of the same hand-held probe to generate and detect ultrasonic and optoacoustic signals. These signals are digitized, processed and used to reconstruct anatomical maps superimposed with maps of two functional parameters of blood hemoglobin index and blood oxygenation index. The blood hemoglobin index represents blood hemoglobin concentration changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background blood concentration. The blood oxygenation index represents blood oxygenation changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background level of blood oxygenation. These coregistered maps can be used to noninvasively differentiate malignant tumors from benign lumps and cysts.

Abstract: An optoacoustic imaging system includes a hand-held imaging probe having a light emitting portion and an array of ultrasonic transducers. The probe includes an acoustic lens having an optically reflective material that operates to avoid image artifacts associated with light interactions with the acoustic lens. The optically reflective material may be a thin, highly optically reflective metallic layer. The acoustic lens may be formed from a material such as silicone rubber filled with titanium dioxide or barium sulfate that allows it to reflect and scatter light from illumination components with substantially no absorption of such light, and yet be optically opaque. The probe may include a housing that provides hypo-echoic encapsulation of the probe. An assembly of the array of ultrasonic transducers may include a hypo-echoic material. The probe may include optical windows, each comprising one or more anti-reflection coated plates with acoustic impedance matching that of tissues to be imaged.

Abstract: Provided herein are system and methods for monitoring and guiding thermal therapy procedures within a human or animal tissue. The system comprises a therapeutic module configured to apply thermal treatment to a subject; an ultrasound imaging module; an optoacoustic imaging module; a processing module connected to both ultrasound and optoacoustic based imaging module; and an operating controlling module connected with said processing module and configured to manipulate at least one of said therapeutic module, ultrasound imaging module or optoacoustic imaging module. The calibration method is able to eliminate the inconsistency of optoacoustic based temperature measurements caused by sample-to-sample and spatial variations of Gruneisen parameter for different tissues. The method for temperature-structure imaging is able to generate both two dimensional and three dimensional co-registered structure and temperature images for the tissues inside a region of interest of a subject.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A real-time imaging method that provides ultrasonic imaging and optoacoustic imaging coregistered through application of the same hand-held probe to generate and detect ultrasonic and optoacoustic signals. These signals are digitized, processed and used to reconstruct anatomical maps superimposed with maps of two functional parameters of blood hemoglobin index and blood oxygenation index. The blood hemoglobin index represents blood hemoglobin concentration changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background blood concentration. The blood oxygenation index represents blood oxygenation changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background level of blood oxygenation. These coregistered maps can be used to noninvasively differentiate malignant tumors from benign lumps and cysts.

Abstract: A real-time imaging system that provides ultrasonic imaging and optoacoustic imaging coregistered through application of the same hand-held probe to generate and detect ultrasonic and optoacoustic signals. These signals are digitized, processed and used to reconstruct anatomical maps superimposed with maps of two functional parameters of blood hemoglobin index and blood oxygenation index. The blood hemoglobin index represents blood hemoglobin concentration changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background blood concentration. The blood oxygenation index represents blood oxygenation changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background level of blood oxygenation. These coregistered maps can be used to noninvasively differentiate malignant tumors from benign lumps and cysts.

Abstract: Provided herein are dual contrast agents or nanocomposite particles designed to enhance optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging. The contrast agents or particles have a core designed to enhance response to incident transient ultrasonic pressure waves and at least two layers disposed around the core. The inner first layer is designed to effectively absorb incident transient optical waves, convert absorbed optical energy into heat and demonstrates significant thermal expansion and/or conversion of thermal energy into acoustic pressure. The outer second layer thermally insulates the inner layer from the surrounding aqueous environment and enhances the generation of transient ultrasonic pressure waves during optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and sensing. Also provided are methods of enhancing contrast in a tissue optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and producing enhanced optoacoustic images by contacting the tissue with the dual contrast agent or nanocomposite particles.

Abstract: Provided herein are dual modality imaging systems and methods within displayed anatomical structures of placenta in real time. The imaging system comprises a dual modality laser optoacoustic and ultrasonic platform with a plurality of subsystems for delivering near infrared light, optoacoustic and ultrasonic pulses to the placenta and/or associated tissue and deep anatomic structures, for detecting ultrasonic pulses generated or reflected within the tissue using a multi-channel optoacoustic-ultrasound probe and associated transducers. The dual modality imaging system displays the results obtained as quantitative functional images of the parameters coregistered with anatomic tissue images.

Abstract: Provided herein are system and methods for monitoring and guiding thermal therapy procedures within a human or animal tissue. The system comprises a therapeutic module configured to apply thermal treatment to a subject; an ultrasound imaging module; an optoacoustic imaging module; a processing module connected to both ultrasound and optoacoustic based imaging module; and an operating controlling module connected with said processing module and configured to manipulate at least one of said therapeutic module, ultrasound imaging module or optoacoustic imaging module. The calibration method is able to eliminate the inconsistency of optoacoustic based temperature measurements caused by sample-to-sample and spatial variations of Gruneisen parameter for different tissues. The method for temperature-structure imaging is able to generate both two dimensional and three dimensional co-registered structure and temperature images for the tissues inside a region of interest of a subject.

Abstract: Provided herein are dual modality imaging systems and methods within displayed anatomical structures of placenta in real time. The imaging system comprises a dual modality laser optoacoustic and ultrasonic platform with a plurality of subsystems for delivering near infrared light, optoacoustic and ultrasonic pulses to the placenta and/or associated tissue and deep anatomic structures, for detecting ultrasonic pulses generated or reflected within the tissue using a multi-channel optoacoustic-ultrasound probe and associated transducers. The dual modality imaging system displays the results obtained as quantitative functional images of the parameters coregistered with anatomic tissue images.

Abstract: Provided herein are dual contrast agents or nanocomposite particles designed to enhance optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging. The contrast agents or particles have a core designed to enhance response to incident transient ultrasonic pressure waves and at least two layers disposed around the core. The inner first layer is designed to effectively absorb incident transient optical waves, convert absorbed optical energy into heat and demonstrates significant thermal expansion and/or conversion of thermal energy into acoustic pressure. The outer second layer thermally insulates the inner layer from the surrounding aqueous environment and enhances the generation of transient ultrasonic pressure waves during optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and sensing. Also provided are methods of enhancing contrast in a tissue optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and producing enhanced optoacoustic images by contacting the tissue with the dual contrast agent or nanocomposite particles.

Abstract: An optoacoustic imaging system includes a hand-held imaging probe having a light emitting portion and an array of ultrasonic transducers. The probe includes an acoustic lens having an optically reflective material that operates to avoid image artifacts associated with light interactions with the acoustic lens. The optically reflective material may be a thin, highly optically reflective metallic layer. The acoustic lens may be formed from a material such as silicon rubber filled with titanium dioxide or barium sulfate that allows it to reflect and scatter light from illumination components with substantially no absorption of such light, and yet be optically opaque. The probe may include a housing that provides hypo-echoic encapsulation of the probe. An assembly of the array of ultrasonic transducers may include a hypo-echoic material. The probe may include optical windows, each comprising one or more anti-reflection-coated plates with acoustic impedance matching that of tissues to be imaged.