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Abstract

A three-dimensional thermoacoustic imaging system uses dye markers. Thermoacoustic signals are produced by the dye markers when light from an external source is absorbed by the dye. Thermoacoustic images with and without dye stimulation may be generated using excitation frequencies both inside and outside the frequency band of fluorescence of the dye marker, and these may be combined, and / or combined with conventional ultrasound images for image enhancement. An apparatus for carrying out this method on mice, uses a commercially available array of transducers positioned opposite to the body of the mouse, which is immersed in a coupling media. A source of illumination such as a laser directs light to the mouse through the coupling media, and resulting acoustic waves are captured by the array and reconstructed to form an image.

Description

[0001]This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 10 / 672,137 filed Sep. 26, 2003, now allowed, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60 / 414,000 filed Sep. 26, 2002.[0002]This application is also related to:[0003]Ser. No. 09 / 604,752, filed Jun. 27, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,292,682, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 09 / 076,968, filed May 13, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,857, which is a divisional application of Patent Cooperation Treaty application designating the Serial No. 97 / 17832, filed Oct. 1, 1997, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08 / 719,736, filed Oct. 4, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,356, issued Feb. 3, 1998, and[0004]Ser. No. 10 / 295,468 filed Nov. 15, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,633,774, which is a division of Ser. No. 09 / 884,766 filed Jun. 19, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,470,[0005]Ser. No. 09 / 243,004 filed Feb. 2, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,025, and[0006]Ser. No. 09 / 076,385 filed May 12, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,942,[0007]all of the for...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a three-dimensional imaging system that uses dye markers for thermoacoustic imaging. This method detects the signals produced by the dye when it absorbs light from an external source. The system can be used on mice and humans, and it allows for the creation of overlaid enhanced images using both thermoacoustic and fluorescence imaging. The technical effects of this invention include improved imaging of internal tissues and the ability to detect and locate dye markers in real-time."

Problems solved by technology

However, the deleterious effects of optical scattering compromises fluorescence imaging in intact animals, and limits spatial resolution increasingly with the depth of the site of markers within soft tissue.

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