Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090138215 | Photoacoustic Doppler Flow Sensing and Imaging - A method for measuring a fluid flow includes employing small light-absorbing particles as tracers that flow at the same speed as the fluid, measuring the photoacoustic Doppler shifts of the photoacoustic signals produced by these tracer particles, and determining, from the measurements, information about the flow including one or more of the flow speed, flow profile, and flow direction. | 05-28-2009 |
20090171210 | SONOELECTRIC TOMOGRAPHY USING A FREQUENCY-SWEPT ULTRASONIC WAVE - Sonoelectric tomography to achieve high-resolution bioelectric imaging. Bioelectrical signals originating from various locations in an object are ultrasonically encoded to carry different frequencies that vary with time via a frequency-swept signal or chirp. The frequency-sweeping parameters are chosen so that no frequencies are duplicated in the medium at any given time. The frequency distribution is decoded, for example, by means of the Fourier transformation to recover a bioelectric image with high spatial resolution. The spatial resolution of the image is defined by the ultrasonic frequency parameters, whereas the image contrast is derived from the bioelectric signals. In an embodiment, an ultrasonic transducer transmits a frequency-swept (e.g., chirped) ultrasonic wave into the region of interest in the tissue. The ultrasonic wave may be focused to achieve high transverse resolution within the focal zone. | 07-02-2009 |
20100079768 | OPTICAL COHERENCE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY - A system, method, and device for imaging a sample. In embodiments, a light from a low-coherence source or a wavelength-swept source is used to illuminate the sample. Pathlength-resolved intensity profiles of the light reemitted from the sample are recorded and measurements are taken. A reconstruction algorithm is used to invert the pathlength-resolved measurements to form an image. | 04-01-2010 |
20100268042 | CONFOCAL PHOTOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY WITH OPTICAL LATERAL RESOLUTION - A confocal photoacoustic microscopy system includes a laser configured to emit a light pulse, a focusing assembly configured to receive the light pulse and to focus the light pulse into an area inside an object, an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive acoustic waves emitted by the object in response to the light pulse, and an electronic system configured to process the acoustic waves and to generate an image of the area inside the object. The focusing assembly is further configured to focus the light pulse on the object in such a way that a focal point of the focusing assembly coincides with a focal point of the at least one ultrasonic transducer. | 10-21-2010 |
20110201914 | Reflection-Mode Photoacoustic Tomography Using A Flexibly-Supported Cantilever Beam - Noninvasively imaging biological tissue using a handheld device. A light pulse is focused into a predetermined area inside an object using a flexibly mounted cantilever beam, acoustic waves emitted by the object in response to the at least one light pulse are detected by a transducer, and an image of the predetermined area inside the object is generated based on a signal generated by the transducer representative of the acoustic waves. | 08-18-2011 |
20110251515 | IMPLANTABLE PRESSURE INDICATOR WITH EXTERNAL INTERROGATION - Observing intracranial physiology includes inserting a bladder at least partially filled with a fluid into a subdural region of interest within a subject, wherein the bladder is coupled in flow communication with a means of indicating a pressure exerted on the bladder within the region of interest. Embodiments also include non-invasively interrogating the means of indicating to determine the pressure exerted on the bladder. | 10-13-2011 |
20110275890 | MINIATURIZED PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS INCLUDING A ROTATABLE REFLECTOR - A reflection-mode photoacoustic endoscope includes a light source configured to emit a light pulse, a signal detection or transmission unit configured to detect or emit an ultrasonic pulse, and a rotatable reflector. The rotatable reflector is configured to reflect at least one of the light pulse and the ultrasonic pulse into a target area of an object, and reflect a response signal to the signal detection unit. The response signal is one of a photoacoustic wave generated by the object responsive to the light pulse and an ultrasonic pulse echo generated by the object responsive to the ultrasonic pulse. | 11-10-2011 |
20120204648 | MULTI-FOCUS OPTICAL-RESOLUTION PHOTOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY WITH ULTRASONIC ARRAY DETECTION - A probe for use with an imaging system, including a scanning device configured to receive a first light beam from a light source, a beam-divider configured to split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, and a focusing device configured to focus each of the second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest. | 08-16-2012 |
20130131576 | CATHETER ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH SHUNT SYSTEMS AND METHOD OF USING SAME - A catheter assembly for inserting in a fluid filled space in a body includes a main body having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is positionable within the fluid filled space and the second end portion is adapted to extend outward from the fluid filled space when the first end portion is positioned within the fluid filled space. The catheter assembly also includes a catheter tip that is connected to the second end portion. The catheter tip includes a housing having a cavity defined therein. The catheter tip also includes a rotating element positioned within the cavity. The rotating element is configured to rotate within the cavity to facilitate movement of the first end portion of the main body within the fluid filled space. | 05-23-2013 |
20130199299 | QUANTIFICATION OF OPTICAL ABSORPTION COEFFICIENTS USING ACOUSTIC SPECTRA IN PHOTOACOUSTIC TOMOGRAPHY - Accurately quantifying optical absorption coefficient using acoustic spectra of photoacoustic signals. Optical absorption is closely associated with many physiological parameters, such as the concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, and it can be used to quantify the concentrations of non-fluorescent molecules. A sample is illuminated by, for example, a pulsed laser and following the absorption of optical energy, a photoacoustic pressure is generated via thermo-elastic expansion. The acoustic waves then propagate and are detected by a transducer. The optical absorption coefficient of the sample is quantified from spectra of the measured photoacoustic signals. Factors, such as system bandwidth and acoustic attenuation, may affect the quantification but are canceled by dividing the acoustic spectra measured at multiple optical wavelengths. | 08-08-2013 |
20130245406 | CONFOCAL PHOTOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY WITH OPTICAL LATERAL RESOLUTION - A method for determining a ratio of hemoglobin absorption within a biological tissue using a handheld device is provided. The method includes focusing at least one light pulse into a predetermined area inside an object using at least one excitation wavelength, wherein a fluorescence signal is based on at least a local excitation optical fluence and properties of fluorophores in the predetermined area. The method further includes receiving a photoacoustic signal emitted by the object in response to the at least one light pulse, the photoacoustic signal being a product of the local excitation optical fluence, an optical absorption coefficient of hemoglobin, and an acoustic detection sensitivity. The method further includes determining the ratio of hemoglobin absorption based on a hemoglobin absorption coefficient that is based at least partially on the fluorescence signal and the photoacoustic signal. | 09-19-2013 |