Miniaturization of photoacoustic cell for smart endoscope to improve sensitivity

Ultrathin endoscopes, such as transnasal endo-scopes, have been developed to alleviate discomfort during diagnosis and therapy. However, their application to optional diagnostics is limited since many optional diagnostic instruments are designed to fit through larger side channels. The aim of this study was to develop a smart endoscope that can obtain various diagnoses based on photoacoustic spectroscopy. The photoacoustic process comprises complex energy conversions involving optical, thermal, and elastic processes. This work focused on the scaling potential of photoacoustic sensors. Photoacoustic sensors with two different volumes were developed, and the amplitudes and frequency responses of the photoacoustic signals for silicone rubbers with six different Young's moduli were investigated. The results showed that photoacoustic signals can be enhanced by reducing the volumes of the sensors. Embedding a miniaturized photoacoustic sensor in an endoscope was confirmed to improve the sensitivity.