Timing controller for combined photoacoustic and ultrasound imager
US8298144B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S15/899
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a combined photoacoustic (PA) and ultrasound imaging system capable of generating PA and ultrasound images simultaneously. These images can be combined and displayed in real-time. The PA images are acquired by firing a illumination system into a sample being imaged and beamforming the received photoacoustic signals. Ultrasound images are formed by transmitting ultrasound energy into the object and beamforming the reflected signals. The present disclosure describes a timing controller to allow the illumination system and ultrasound transmissions to be timed relative to one another. This allows both modalities to operate at close to their maximum frame rates while preventing signal interference.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.