Method for dual modality optoacoustic imaging

US9757092B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SENO MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Alexander A. Oraevsky · Houston, US
• Sergey A. Ermilov · Houston, US
• Andre Conjusteau · Houston, US
• Peter Brecht · Santa Monica, US
• Vyacheslav Nadvoretskiy · Houston, US
• Richard Su · Sugar Land, US
• Donald G. Herzog · Collingswood, US
• Bryan Clingman · San Antonio, US
• Jason Zalev · Thornhill, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 2, 2012
• Grant date: Sep 12, 2017
• Expiry date: Apr 1, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B8/481
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A real-time imaging method that provides ultrasonic imaging and optoacoustic imaging coregistered through application of the same hand-held probe to generate and detect ultrasonic and optoacoustic signals. These signals are digitized, processed and used to reconstruct anatomical maps superimposed with maps of two functional parameters of blood hemoglobin index and blood oxygenation index. The blood hemoglobin index represents blood hemoglobin concentration changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background blood concentration. The blood oxygenation index represents blood oxygenation changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background level of blood oxygenation. These coregistered maps can be used to noninvasively differentiate malignant tumors from benign lumps and cysts.