Triple-modality imaging of optoacoustic pressure, ultrasonic scattering, and optical diffuse reflectance with improved resolution and speed

The method of cost-effective upgrade from an acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscope to a triple-modality imaging system is presented. The newly-developed experimental setup is based on a diode-pumped laser coupled to a fiber bundle with a spherically focused polyvinylidene fluoride detector integrated into the center of a ring-shaped optical illuminator. Each laser pulse illuminating the sample performs two functions. While the photons absorbed by the sample provide a measurable optoacoustic (OA) signal, the photons absorbed by the detector provide the measurable diffuse reflectance (DR) from the sample and the probing ultrasonic (US) pulse. At a 3 mm imaging depth the axial resolution of the OA/US modalities is 38μm/26μm, while the lateral resolution of the DR/OA/US modalities is 3.5mm/50μm/35μm. At LO conference we will present the imaging capabilities of the developed DR/OA/US system using the results on phantom and in vivo experiments.