Video-rate photoacoustic microscopy of micro-vasculatures

Abstract

We report the development of photoacoustic microscopy capable of video-rate high-resolution in-vivo imaging in deep tissue. A lightweight photoacoustic probe is made of a single-element broadband ultrasound transducer, a compact photoacoustic beam combiner, and a bright-field light delivery system. Focused broadband ultrasound detection provides a 44-μm lateral resolution and a 28-μm axial resolution. A multimode optical fiber is used to deliver laser pulses. The bright-field light delivery system can effectively improve the illumination efficiency. The photoacoustic probe weighs less than 40 grams and is mounted on a voice-coil scanner to acquire 40 cross-sectional images per second over several-mm range. The fast speed can effectively improve imaging throughput, reduce motion artifacts, and enable the visualization of highly dynamic biomedical processes. High-resolution micro-vascular imaging is successfully demonstrated.

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