Various embodiments of the present invention provide for a photoacoustic imaging probe for use in a photoacoustic imaging
system, whereby the probe is comprised of a cohesive composite,
acoustic lens incorporating aspheric geometry and exhibiting low or practically no measurable dispersion of acoustic
waves constructed of at least one material with a low
acoustic impedance and attenuation and a relatively low acoustic velocity and at least one other material with a low
acoustic impedance and attenuation and a relatively high acoustic velocity. The probe is housed in a conduit filled with a low acoustic velocity and low
acoustic impedance fluid such as water or
mineral oil. The lens may be designed as a
telecentric lens, an acoustic
zoom lens, a catadioptric lens, or a reflective lens. The lens focuses acoustic
waves on an acoustic imager which detects the image. The acoustic imager may be designed as a 2 dimensional array of transducers. Research to date indicates that within the range of acoustic frequencies of interest, 1 MHz-50 MHz and preferable 2 MHz-10 MHz, there exists little velocity variation within the materials of interest, and the lens design approach may currently be considered to be essentially monochromatic. The acoustic
waves can be generated when an emitting
light source illuminates a
test subject comprising materials that generate acoustic waves at differing intensities and / or frequencies when illuminated with light, for example tissue containing blood vessels, wherein the blood vessels excite and generate an acoustic pulse. The probe has an acoustic window made of a material with low acoustic impedance which allows the acoustic pulse to enter the probe without
distortion and then may be reflected by a mirror onto the
acoustic lens. The probe may include the emitting
light source and an optical window to allow light emitting from said
light source to illuminate the
test subject.