Real-time photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system and method
US10888304B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jan 12, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/463
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and system for producing combined photoacoustic/ultrasonic image frames use a low-power narrow beam laser to direct sequential pulses along a path overlying an internal region of interest. Photoacoustic responses are received and used to generate sub-frames. Between each of the laser pulses a plurality of ultrasound pulse-echo beams are sequentially emitted towards the region of interest, and the reflections are received and used to generate ultrasound sub-frames. The photoacoustic sub-frames are combined to produce a photoacoustic frame, and the ultrasound sub-frames are combined to produce an ultrasound frame. The photoacoustic and ultrasound frames are combined to produce an image frame. The method and system are suitable for producing real-time, high-contrast video.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.