Affiliation:
1. Department of Medical IT Convergence Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology
Abstract
Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a high-fidelity biomedical imaging
technique based on the principle of molecular-specific optical
absorption of biological tissue constitute. Because PA imaging shares
the same basic principle as that of ultrasound (US) imaging, the use
of PA/US dual-modal imaging can be achieved using a single system.
However, because PA imaging is limited to a shallower depth than US
imaging due to the optical extinction in biological tissue, the PA
signal yields a lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than US images. To
selectively amplify the PA signal, we propose a switchable
preamplifier for acoustic-resolution PA microscopy implemented on an
application-specific integrated circuit. Using the preamplifier, we
measured the increments in the SNR with both carbon lead and wire
phantoms. Furthermore, in vivo whole-body PA/US
imaging of a mouse with a preamplifier showed enhancement of SNR in
deep tissues, unveiling deeply located organs and vascular networks.
By selectively amplifying the PA signal range to a level similar to
that of the US signal without contrast agent administration, our
switchable amplifier strengthens the mutual complement between PA/US
imaging. PA/US imaging is impending toward clinical translation, and
we anticipate that this study will help mitigate the imbalance of
image depth between the two imaging modalities.
Funder
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Science and ICT, South
Korea
Korea Medical Device Development
Fund
BK21 FOUR
Subject
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics,Biotechnology