3D photoacoustic imaging using Hadamard-bias encoding with a crossed electrode relaxor array.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Acoustic Physics

Background:

• Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) offers high resolution and contrast.
• Traditional PAI systems often require a large number of data channels, increasing complexity and cost.
• Developing cost-effective PAI with high performance is crucial for clinical translation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel 3D photoacoustic imaging technique using a bias-sensitive crossed-electrode relaxor array.
• To evaluate the performance of Hadamard-bias encoding for signal acquisition in PAI.
• To compare the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the proposed method against a conventional strategy.

Main Methods:

• Experimental demonstration of a 64x64 element bias-sensitive crossed-electrode relaxor array.
• Application of Hadamard-bias patterns to column electrodes for signal encoding.
• Measurement of photoacoustic signals from a crossed-wire phantom in an intralipid scattering medium.
• Acquisition of signals using minimal channel counts by reading out row electrodes.

Main Results:

• The Hadamard-bias-encoded imaging scheme achieved a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 25.3 dB.
• The single-column biasing strategy (identity-matrix-bias pattern) resulted in a SNR of 8.8 dB.
• The novel technique demonstrated a significant improvement in SNR compared to the conventional method.

Conclusions:

• The demonstrated 3D photoacoustic imaging technique effectively utilizes a bias-sensitive crossed-electrode array.
• Hadamard-bias encoding significantly enhances the SNR in photoacoustic signal acquisition.
• This approach offers a promising pathway for developing high-performance, cost-effective 3D photoacoustic imaging systems.