Novel Optoacoustic Sensors with an Open Cavity Configuration

描述（由申请人提供）：为了获得人体深层组织的全面形态和功能信息，我们一直致力于开发新的成像技术。光学显微镜通常提供高分辨率，但在散射介质中成像深度有限。相比之下，声学成像能够实现深层组织成像，但分辨率不理想，受限于传统超声检测中使用的低频。高分辨率超声成像通过使用接近或高于50兆赫的频率提供了许多新的潜在的生物医学应用。这些包括眼睛内部结构的成像，皮肤病变的诊断，以及脆弱的血管内斑块的特征。然而，传统的基于压电材料的超声检测受到制造高频换能器的困难的挑战。几十年来，研究人员一直在寻找压电超声检测的替代方法。高频宽带探测的一种方法是使用封闭的微腔结构夹在两个光学反射器之间。这种光学技术的低检测灵敏度阻碍了它在临床环境中的广泛应用。该计划旨在解决敏感高频宽带超声检测这一长期存在的挑战。提出了一种利用全内反射光子晶体结构的开放式光学微腔光声传感器。这种独特的方法允许传感器直接暴露在超声波信号中，而不需要中间结构的衰减。此外，该结构与腔内的高弹性材料兼容，同时保持高精细度。这使得高频超声检测灵敏度和带宽大大提高，超过了目前最灵敏的光声和压电传感器。这项独特技术的成功开发将对高分辨率深层组织形态和功能成像产生重大影响，可在生物医学研究和临床诊断中广泛应用。例如，将该技术用于血管内高分辨率光声和超声成像的可行性将被探讨。摘要提出了一种利用全内反射光子晶体结构的开放式光学微腔的新型光声传感器。这种独特的方法将大大提高高频超声检测的灵敏度和带宽，超过目前最灵敏的光声和压电传感器。这项独特技术的成功开发将对高分辨率深层组织形态和功能成像产生重大影响，可在生物医学研究和临床诊断中广泛应用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Much effort has been devoted to the development of novel imaging technologies for obtaining comprehensive morphological and functional information of tissues at depth in the body. Optical microscopy normally provides high resolution but limited imaging depth in scattering media. In contrast, acoustic imaging enables deep tissue imaging with unsatisfactory resolution, limited by the low frequency used in conventional ultrasound detection. High resolution ultrasound imaging offers many new potential biomedical applications by using frequencies near or higher than 50 MHz. These include imaging internal structures of the eye, diagnosing skin pathologies, and characterizing vulnerable intravascular plaques. However, conventional piezoelectric material- based ultrasound detection is challenged by the difficulty of fabricating transducers in the high frequency range. Researchers have been seeking alternative approaches to piezoelectric ultrasound detection for decades. One approach for high frequency broadband detection uses a closed micro-cavity structure sandwiched by two optical reflectors. The low detection sensitivity of this optical technique has prevented it from widespread application in clinical settings. This program aims to address this long-standing challenge of sensitive high-frequency broadband ultrasound detection. An innovative optoacoustic sensor with an open optical micro-cavity is proposed using a photonic crystal structure in a total internal reflection configuration. This unique approach allows the sensor to be directly exposed to ultrasound signals without the attenuation of an intervening structure. Further, this configuration is compatible with highly elastic materials within the cavity while maintaining high finesse. This enables substantial increases in high- frequency ultrasound detection sensitivity and bandwidth beyond the most sensitive optoacoustic and piezoelectric sensors currently available. Successful development of this unique technology will have a great impact on high-resolution deep tissue morphological and functional imaging, applicable in a wide range of applications of biomedical research and clinical diagnosis. For example, the feasibility of using this proposed technology for intravascular high- resolution photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging will be explored. Novel Optoacoustic Sensors with an Open Cavity Configuration PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE An innovative optoacoustic sensor with an open optical micro-cavity is proposed using a photonic crystal structure in a total internal reflection configuration. This unique approach will enable substantial increases in high-frequency ultrasound detection sensitivity and bandwidth beyond the most sensitive optoacoustic and piezoelectric sensors currently available. Successful development of this unique technology will have a great impact on high-resolution deep tissue morphological and functional imaging, applicable in a wide range of applications of biomedical research and clinical diagnosis.