Ultrasound waveguiding of light deep into scattering media

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In general, optical technologies are attractive for biomedical applications such as imaging and treatment. However, the massive scattering of light in biological tissue prevents an efficient penetration of light deeper than a few millimeters into the tissue and thus dramatically limits the potential of light for biomedical applications. Therefore, approaches to suppress or circumvent the scattering are desperately sought for. Among those concepts, the use of ultrasound for alteration of the light path via the acoustooptical effect seems particularly promising. Therefore, the aim of this project is to evaluate systematically how ultrasound waveguiding can promote light delivery deep into scattering tissue and by that enable optical and photoacoustic imaging of biomedical tissue with increased penetration depth. Based on our preliminary studies, we develop numerical models for ultrasound and light propagation in scattering media as well as for the ultrasound mediated light waveguiding. With those models, we derive optimum settings for experimental configurations. Consequently, these settings will be implemented and systematically experimentally analyzed with scattering phantoms and solutions. Finally, we combine the optimized concept with photoacoustic imaging and develop concepts for photoacoustic imaging at larger penetration depth due to ultrasound mediated light guiding. In summary, we have two main goals: 1. A comprehensive understanding of the physical effects underlying the ultrasound induced light waveguiding in scattering media 2. Demonstration of high penetration depth via ultrasound induced waveguiding in photoacoustic imaing