Real-time 3D photoacoustic imaging system for biomedical research

光声成像是研究生物系统的一种强有力的技术。 光声图像能够显示组织健康的重要指标，并有助于检测和诊断癌症等疾病。卡森博士的研究小组正在开发一种三维光声成像技术，比目前可用的系统快许多倍。它使用超声波换能器阵列来接收生物样本响应激光器发出的明亮闪光而产生的光声波。计算机解释来自传感器的信号，并将其重建为突出疾病区域的三维光声图像。研究的第一个目标是增加阵列中换能器的数量，以改善光声信号的接收和所得3D图像的质量。 第二个目标是增加阵列能够感测的频率范围，这将进一步提高3D光声图像的质量。 第三个目标将是获得换能器阵列从成像体积中的点发出信号的准确程度的图。为了获得这些信息，将使用微型光声信号源来测试阵列中的所有换能器。用机器人臂在成像体积内从点到点移动源将建立所需的图。该研究计划将使卡森博士和他的学员能够大大提高他们的成像系统捕获的3D光声图像的质量。这将使捕获具有更好分辨率和图像质量的活体样本的光声图像成为可能，并使3D光声成像在研究癌症等疾病方面变得实用。此外，该研究计划将使学员有机会学习如何将超声，激光和机器人技术结合起来，以解决生物医学成像研究中的实际问题。

Photoacoustic imaging is a powerful technique for studying biological systems. Photoacoustic images are capable of showing important indicators of tissue health and are helpful in the detection and diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. Dr. Carson's research team is developing a 3-dimensional photoacoustic imaging technology that is many times faster than currently available systems. It uses an array of ultrasound transducers to receive the photoacoustic waves generated by biological specimens in response to a bright flash of light from a laser. A computer interprets the signals from the transducers and reconstructs them into a 3-dimensional photoacoustic image that highlights areas of disease. The first objective of the research will be to increase the number of transducers in the array to improve the reception of photoacoustic signals and the quality of resultant 3D images. The second objective will be to increase the range of frequencies that the array is able to sense, which will improve the quality of the 3D photoacoustic images further. The third objective will be to obtain an accurate map of how well the transducer array signals from points in the imaging volume. To get this information, a miniature source of photoacoustic signal will be used to test of all transducers in the array. Movement of the source from point to point within the imaging volume with a robot arm will build up the required map. The research program will enable Dr. Carson and his trainees to improve greatly the quality of 3D photoacoustic images captured with their imaging system. This will make possible the capture of photoacoustic images of living samples with better resolution and image quality, and make 3D photoacoustic imaging practical for studying diseases such as cancer. Furthermore, the research program will give trainees the opportunity to learn how ultrasound, laser, and robotic technology can be combined to solve practical problems in biomedical imaging research.