Non-contact photoacoustic imaging using a fiber based interferometer with optical amplification

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Acoustic Imaging
• Interferometry

Background:

• Traditional photoacoustic imaging relies on contact transducers, limiting applications where tissue contact is undesirable.
• Remote photoacoustic signal detection is an emerging alternative for specific biomedical imaging scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a non-contact photoacoustic imaging system using an optical fiber-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
• To evaluate the system's capability for remote detection and reconstruction of photoacoustic signals.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an optical fiber-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer for remote detection of photoacoustic signals.
• Employed optical amplification with an erbium-doped fiber amplifier to enhance signal-to-noise ratio.
• Reconstructed initial pressure distribution using a Fourier domain algorithm.

Main Results:

• Successfully performed non-contact three- and two-dimensional photoacoustic imaging.
• Demonstrated remote photoacoustic imaging on a tissue-mimicking phantom.
• Acquired images on chicken skin samples, showcasing applicability to biological tissues.

Conclusions:

• The developed fiber-optic interferometer provides a viable non-contact approach for photoacoustic imaging.
• This technique offers a promising alternative for applications requiring remote ultrasound detection.
• Further advancements could expand the utility of non-contact photoacoustic imaging in various fields.