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Photoacoustic (PA) imaging capitalizes on sound and light to probe tissue optical absorption at depth. Owing to acoustic propagation of absorbed diffuse photons it exceeds imaging depth of most pure optical methods. Moreover, since the detection of PA signals relies on ultrasound transducers, the modality inherently allows for acquisition of co-registered ultrasound images, enabling a structural and functional examination of tissue. Diagnosis of diseases such as atherosclerosis could benefit greatly from uncovering such dual information. Clinical translation of photoacoustic imaging, led by breast cancer imaging application is—pending a couple of hurdles—on the brink of happening. Systematic approaches in assessing contrast through spectroscopy, designing acquisition systems through optimization for both PA/US signal sensitivity and image metrics and finally designing instrumentation to account for tissue access limitations have been researched and show promising results. In this talk, we discuss the final challenges in translating photoacoustic imaging to the clinics with respect to contrast, instrumentation and system development. |
