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Photoacoustic Tomography

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Optical-Thermal Response of Laser-Irradiated Tissue

Abstract

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) refers to imaging that is based on the photoacoustic effect. Although the photoacoustic effect as a physical phenomenon was first reported on by Alexander Graham Bell in 1880 [1], PAT as an imaging technology was developed only after the advent of ultrasonic transducers, computers, and lasers [2–31]. A review on biomedical photoacoustics is available [32]. The motivation for PAT is to combine optical-absorption contrast with ultrasonic spatial resolution for deep imaging in the optical quasi-diffusive or diffusive regime. In PAT, the tissue is irradiated by usually a short-pulsed laser beam to achieve a thermal and acoustic impulse response (Fig. 19.1). Locally absorbed light is converted into heat, which is further converted to a pressure rise via thermo-elastic expansion. The initial pressure rise – determined by the local optical absorption coefficient (μ â ), fluence (ψ) and other thermal and mechanical properties – propagates as an ultrasonic wave, which is referred to as a photoacoustic wave.

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Acknowledgment

The author thanks H. Zhang and K. Maslov for providing unpublished Fig. 19.4. This work was sponsored by National Institutes of Health grants R01 EB000712 and R01 NS46214.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130-4899, USA

    Lihong V. Wang

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  1. Lihong V. Wang
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Correspondence to Lihong V. Wang .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, University Station 1, Austin, 78712, Texas, USA

    Ashley J. Welch

  2. Academic Medical Centre, Laser Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Netherlands

    Martin J.C. van Gemert

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Wang, L.V. (2010). Photoacoustic Tomography. In: Welch, A., van Gemert, M. (eds) Optical-Thermal Response of Laser-Irradiated Tissue. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8831-4_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8831-4_19

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8830-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-90-481-8831-4

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