Photoacoustic topography through an ergodic relay for functional imaging and biometric application in vivo

Significance Photoacoustic (PA) tomography has demonstrated versatile biomedical applications. However, an array-based PA computed tomography (PACT) system is complex and expensive, whereas a single-element detector-based scanning PA system is too slow to detect some fast biological dynamics in vivo. New PA imaging methods are sought after. Aim To overcome these limitations, we developed photoacoustic topography through an ergodic relay (PATER), a novel high-speed imaging system with a single-element detector. Approach PATER images widefield PA signals encoded by the acoustic ergodic relay with a single-laser shot. Results We applied PATER in vivo to monitor changes in oxygen saturation in a mouse brain and also to demonstrate high-speed matching of vascular patterns for biometric authentication. Conclusions PATER has achieved a high-speed temporal resolution over a large field of view. Our results suggest that PATER is a promising and economical alternative to PACT for fast imaging.