Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for non-invasive optoacoustic measurements of biomechanical and/or morphological features of skin and/or other tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for non-invasive optoacoustic measurements of biomechanical and/or morphological features of skin and/or other tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for optoacoustic sensing, wherein an irradiation unit is configured to generate at least one train of periodic pulses of electromagnetic energy, the pulses of the at least one train of periodic pulses exhibiting a pulse duration and repetition rate, and to irradiate a target with the generated train of periodic pulses. A detection unit is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in the target and to generate an according detection signal, the detection signal comprising, for each train of the at least one train of periodic pulses, detection signal components at a plurality of discrete frequencies in the frequency domain, the discrete frequencies being spaced from each other by a frequency spacing corresponding to the repetition rate of the pulses of the at least one train of periodic pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for determining one or more parameters regarding a content and/or property of biomolecules, in particular metabolites, in a biological tissue (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for endoscopic optoacoustic imaging comprising an imaging unit (2) configured to be at least partially inserted into an object (5), said imaging unit (2) comprising an irradiation unit (6) configured to irradiate a region of interest (7) inside the object (5) with electromagnetic radiation and a detection unit (8) comprising at least one ultrasound transducer configured to detect ultrasound waves generated in the region of interest (7) in response to irradiating the region of interest (7) with the electromagnetic radiation and to generate according detection signals, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer exhibits a field of view (8b) being at least partially located in the irradiated region of interest (7).

Abstract: An apparatus for photo-acoustic measurement of a measurement target in a fluid flow comprises:—an ellipsoidal measurement chamber (3) having a first focal point and a second focal point; —a duct (6, 7, 8) configured to guide a fluid flow through the measurement chamber (3) along a first axis (X) through the first focal point; —light source means for generating an excitation light beam of modulated intensity; —means configured to pass the excitation light beam through the measurement chamber (3) along a second axis (Y), which is different from the first axis (X), such that the excitation light beam crosses the fluid flow at the first focal point and that the crossing of the fluid flow and the excitation light beam defines an excitation volume (4) within which the fluid flow is excited by the excitation light beam to generate acoustic waves; and —detecting means (5) arranged at the second focal point and configured to detect said acoustic waves, wherein the detecting means has no direct contact with the fluid f

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining information regarding the location of energy deposition of an ion beam in an absorptive medium, comprising the following steps: generating a pulsed ion beam, detecting a time-resolved acoustic signal, said time-resolved acoustic signal comprising an energy-deposition-signal component attributable to the energy deposition of an individual pulse of said pulsed ion beam in said absorptive medium, determining relative timing information of the energy deposition of said individual pulse with respect to said time-resolved acoustic signal, providing a matched filter for processing the time-resolved acoustic signal, and applying said matched filter to said time-resolved acoustic signal, deriving, from the filtered time-resolved signal, occurrence timing information related to the occurrence of said energy-deposition signal component in said time-resolved acoustic signal, and deriving information regarding the location of the energy deposition based, at least in part, on a d

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and an according method for optoacoustic imaging of an object. The device (1) comprising an irradiation unit for irradiating a region of interest (3) of the object with electromagnetic radiation (6), in particular light, and a detection unit (9) for detecting acoustic, in particular ultrasonic, waves generated in the region of interest (3) of the object upon irradiation with the electromagnetic radiation (6), wherein the detection unit (9) is configured to detect the acoustic waves at one or more point-like detection locations, which are located outside of the region of interest (3) of the object. The point-like detection locations can be given by, e.g., focus points (19) of acoustic detection elements (23), point-like detection elements or point-like or pinhole apertures. The invention allows for improved and reliable optoacoustic imaging, in particular in view of dermatology applications.

Abstract: A sensor (10) comprises a waveguide (20) having a longitudinal axis and an end face (21), the waveguide (20) comprising a Bragg grating (23). The sensor comprises at least one reflector (24) on the end face (21) of the waveguide (20). An optical resonator (25) is formed by the Bragg grating (23), the at least one reflector (24), and an inner portion of the optical resonator (25) between the Bragg grating (23) and the at least one reflector (24). The inner portion of the optical resonator (25) extends within a portion of the waveguide (20). The sensor (10) comprises a detector (32) configured to detect at least one spectral characteristic of the optical resonator (25) or a change of at least one spectral characteristic of the optical resonator (25).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for endoscopic imaging comprising a light source configured to generate light and an, in particular rigid, insertion portion configured to be inserted into an object and comprising a distal end, a proximal end and at least one light guiding path. The system further comprises a first imaging device mounted at the proximal end of the insertion portion and optically coupled to the light guiding path, the first imaging device comprising a plurality of first detecting elements exhibiting a first sensitivity to light. A flexible guiding portion comprising a distal end and a proximal end is provided to guide a second part of the light emanating from the medium from the distal end of the guiding portion to the proximal end of the guiding portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and a corresponding method for mid-infrared microscopy and/or analysis, the device (1) comprising at least one radiation unit (10) configured to generate radiation (11) of time-varying intensity, the radiation (11) comprising one or more wavelengths in the mid-infrared spectral range, at least one refractive and/or reflective optical unit (12) which is configured to focus and/or direct the radiation (11) to at least one region or point of interest (20) located on and/or with-in an object (2), at least one detection unit (18) configured to detect ultrasound waves (17) emitted by the object (2) at the at least one region or point of interest (20) in response to an interaction of the radiation (11) with the object (2) and to generate according detection signals, and an evaluation unit (25) configured to derive infor-mation regarding at least one property of the object (2) from the detection signals and/or to generate a spatial and/or spatio-temporal distribution of the detec

Abstract: A multi-modal catheter combining at least NIRF and IVUs imaging channels used to reveal integrated biological and structural features of a lumen intravascularly imaged through flowing blood in vivo and corrected for distance-related attenuation and/or scattering parameters of in vivo blood to compensate for discovered overestimation of the degree of in-vivo-blood attenuation of NIRF signal Enhancing the sensitivity of detection of vascular injury and/or plaque deposition beyond the capability of a standalone IVUS imaging as a result of the use of such corrected catheter.

Abstract: A hybrid NIRF/IVUS imaging probe containing i) a spatially-truncated optical lens a substantially-planar surface of which is inclined with respect to an axis to reflect light, transmitted between proximal and distal ends of the probe, internally into a body of the lens, and ii) an acoustic transducer disposed sequentially with the optical lens on the axis of the probe while, at the same time, the optical and electrical members of the probe transmitting the radiative and mechanical energies (which the probe exchanges with a target bodily vessel) are parallel to one another within the housing of the probe. A method for operating the probe resulting in formation of spatially co-registered optical and acoustic images of the target. Related imaging system and computer-program product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for optoacoustic sensing, wherein an irradiation unit is configured to generate at least one train of periodic pulses of electromagnetic energy, the pulses of the at least one train of periodic pulses exhibiting a pulse duration and repetition rate, and to irradiate a target with the generated train of periodic pulses. A detection unit is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in the target and to generate an according detection signal, the detection signal comprising, for each train of the at least one train of periodic pulses, detection signal components at a plurality of discrete frequencies in the frequency domain, the discrete frequencies being spaced from each other by a frequency spacing corresponding to the repetition rate of the pulses of the at least one train of periodic pulses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for non-invasive optoacoustic measurements of biomechanical and/or morphological features of skin and/or other tissue.

Abstract: A sensor (10) comprises a waveguide (20) having a longitudinal axis and an end face (21), the waveguide (20) comprising a Bragg grating (23). The sensor comprises at least one reflector (24) on the end face (21) of the waveguide (20). An optical resonator (25) is formed by the Bragg grating (23), the at least one reflector (24), and an inner portion of the optical resonator (25) between the Bragg grating (23) and the at least one reflector (24). The inner portion of the optical resonator (25) extends within a portion of the waveguide (20). The sensor (10) comprises a detector (32) configured to detect at least one spectral characteristic of the optical resonator (25) or a change of at least one spectral characteristic of the optical resonator (25).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and a corresponding method for mid-infrared microscopy and/or analysis, the device (1) comprising at least one radiation unit (10) configured to generate radiation (11) of time-varying intensity, the radiation (11) comprising one or more wavelengths in the mid-infrared spectral range, at least one refractive and/or reflective optical unit (12) which is configured to focus and/or direct the radiation (11) to at least one region or point of interest (20) located on and/or within an object (2), at least one detection unit (18) configured to detect ultrasound waves (17) emitted by the object (2) at the at least one region or point of interest (20) in response to an interaction of the radiation (11) with the object (2) and to generate according detection signals, and an evaluation unit (25) configured to derive information regarding at least one property of the object (2) from the detection signals and/or to generate a spatial and/or spatio-temporal distribution of the detecti

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) and a corresponding method for thermoacoustic sensing, in particular thermoacoustic imaging, the device (100) comprising: a) an irradiation unit (10) configured to generate electromagnetic and/or particle energy exhibiting a first modulation, the first modulation comprising at least one frequency and to continuously emit the energy towards a target (1), whereby acoustic waves are continuously generated in the target, the acoustic waves exhibiting a second modulation, the second modulation comprising the at least one frequency and/or a harmonic frequency of the at least one frequency; b) a detection unit (20) configured to simultaneously detect the acoustic waves exhibiting the second modulation while the energy exhibiting the first modulation is being continuously emitted towards the target (1); and c) a processing unit (30) configured to determine at least one thermoacoustic value of an amplitude and/or a phase of the second modulation of the acoustic waves at the at l

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for endoscopic optoacoustic imaging comprising an imaging unit (2) configured to be at least partially inserted into an object (5), said imaging unit (2) comprising an irradiation unit (6) configured to irradiate a region of interest (7) inside the object (5) with electromagnetic radiation and a detection unit (8) comprising at least one ultrasound transducer configured to detect ultrasound waves generated in the region of interest (7) in response to irradiating the region of interest (7) with the electromagnetic radiation and to generate according detection signals, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer exhibits a field of view (8b) being at least partially located in the irradiated region of interest (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to system for optoacoustic imaging, in particular for rasterscan optoacoustic mesoscopy (RSOM), and an according method for optoacoustic imaging data processing.