Handheld photoacoustic imaging probe

Abstract

The invention provides a handheld photoacoustic imaging probe and relates to the technical field of photoacoustic imaging. The probe comprises an ultrasonic probe and a light source for emitting exciting light. The exciting light is coupled to a first fiber bundle. The tail end of the first fiber bundle is branched into a first fiber sub-bundle and a second fiber sub-bundle. The tail end of the first fiber sub-bundle and the tail end of the second fiber sub-bundle are provided with a first rectangular structure and a second rectangular structure, respectively, located on two sides of the ultrasonic probe; light outgoing directions of the sub-bundles are parallel to a detection direction of the ultrasonic probe. A coupling module is disposed at the lower end of the ultrasonic probe. Two sides of the coupling module are provided with light reflecting structures corresponding to the first and second rectangular structures, respectively. Light emitted from the first and second rectangular structures is reflected by the light reflecting structures and gathers at the bottom of the coupling module, forming a rectangular light spot which irradiates an object to be detected, and photoacoustic signals are excited and finally detected by the ultrasonic probe.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the technical field of photoacoustic imaging, in particular to a hand-held photoacoustic imaging probe. Background technique [0002] At present, optical imaging technology has become one of the fastest-growing technologies in today's medical imaging technology because of its advantages in one or more aspects such as resolution, chemical specificity, sensitivity, and safety. However, due to the limitation of tissue penetration depth, the development of optical imaging technology is limited, so a photoacoustic imaging technology emerged as the times require. Photoacoustic imaging has the advantages of high contrast and specificity of optical imaging and high resolution and penetration depth of acoustic imaging. Because biological tissues with different components absorb light to different degrees, this is a contrast mechanism, and biological tissues can be obtained. Chemical composition and physiological function information. ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention provides a hand-held photoacoustic imaging probe to solve the problem that the current hand-held photoacoustic imaging probe has a large size, is not convenient for the operator to use, and is caused by misalignment between the probe detection area and the illumination area or loss of light energy. The problem that it is difficult to obtain an image with a high signal-to-noise ratio

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