Dual Modality Noncontact Photoacoustic and Spectral Domain OCT Imaging.

We developed a multimodal imaging system, combining noncontact photoacoustic imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Photoacoustic signals are recorded without contact to the specimens' surface by using an interferometric technique. The interferometer is realized within a fiber-optic network using a fiber laser at 1550 nm as source. The fiber-optic network allows the integration of a fiber-based OCT system operating at a wavelength region around 1310 nm. Light from the fiber laser and the OCT source are multiplexed into one fiber using wavelength-division multiplexing. The same focusing optics is used for both modalities. Back-reflected light from the sample is demultiplexed and guided to the respective imaging systems. As the same optical components are used for OCT and photoacoustic imaging, the obtained images are co-registered intrinsically in lateral direction. Three-dimensional imaging is implemented by hybrid galvanometer and mechanical scanning. To allow fast B-scan measurements, scanning of the interrogation beam along one dimension is executed by a galvanometer scanner. Slow-axis scanning, perpendicular to the fast axis, is performed utilizing a linear translational stage. We demonstrate two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging on agarose phantoms.

Remote mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy with a quantum cascade laser.

We demonstrate non-contact remote photoacoustic spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region. A room-temperature-operated pulsed external-cavity quantum cascade laser is used to excite photoacoustic waves within a semitransparent sample. The ultrasonic waves are detected remotely on the opposite side of the sample using a fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer, thereby avoiding problems associated with acoustic attenuation in air. We present the theoretical background of the proposed technique and demonstrate measurements on a thin polystyrene film. The obtained absorption spectrum in the region of 1030-1230 cm(-1) is compared to a spectrum obtained by attenuated total reflection, showing reasonable agreement.

Multimodal noncontact photoacoustic and optical coherence tomography imaging using wavelength-division multiplexing.

We present multimodal noncontact photoacoustic (PA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. PA signals are acquired remotely on the surface of a specimen with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The interferometer is realized in a fiber-optic network using a fiber laser at 1550 nm as the source. In the same fiber-optic network, a spectral-domain OCT system is implemented. The OCT system utilizes a supercontinuum light source at 1310 nm and a spectrometer with an InGaAs line array detector. Light from the fiber laser and the OCT source is multiplexed into one fiber using a wavelength-division multiplexer; the same objective is used for both imaging modalities. Reflected light is spectrally demultiplexed and guided to the respective imaging systems. We demonstrate two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging on a tissue-mimicking sample and a chicken skin phantom. The same fiber network and same optical components are used for PA and OCT imaging, and the obtained images are intrinsically coregistered.

Quasi-balanced two-wave mixing interferometer for remote ultrasound detection.

We present an improved detection scheme for a two-wave mixing interferometer with a Bi12SiO20 crystal. The proposed detection scheme allows quasi-balanced detection of ultrasonic signals whereby electrical disturbances are suppressed. Quasi-balancing is achieved by changing the polarity of the high voltage at the photorefractive crystal, leading to an inversion of the optical interference signal, in combination with inversion of the detector signal using a signal inverter before the data acquisition device. The polarity of the high voltage is changed by utilizing an H-bridge consisting of five high-voltage relays. Microcontrollers are used to synchronize the reversion of the high voltage at the photorefractive crystal and the inversion of the measured signals. We demonstrate remote measurement of ultrasonic waves and shown that electrical disturbances are suppressed using the quasi-balanced mode.

Non-contact photoacoustic imaging using a fiber based interferometer with optical amplification.

In photoacoustic imaging the ultrasonic signals are usually detected by contacting transducers. For some applications contact with the tissue should be avoided. As alternatives to contacting transducers interferometric means can be used to acquire photoacoustic signals remotely. In this paper we report on non-contact three and two dimensional photoacoustic imaging using an optical fiber-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A detection beam is transmitted through an optical fiber network onto the surface of the specimen. Back reflected light is collected and coupled into the same optical fiber. To achieve a high signal/noise ratio the reflected light is amplified by means of optical amplification with an erbium doped fiber amplifier before demodulation. After data acquisition the initial pressure distribution is reconstructed by a Fourier domain reconstruction algorithm. We present remote photoacoustic imaging of a tissue mimicking phantom and on chicken skin.

A webcam in Bayer-mode as a light beam profiler for the near infra-red.

Beam profiles are commonly measured with complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) or charge coupled devices (CCD). The devices are fast and reliable but expensive. By making use of the fact that the Bayer-filter in commercial webcams is transparent in the near infra-red (>800 nm) and their CCD chips are sensitive up to about 1100 nm, we demonstrate a cheap and simple way to measure laser beam profiles with a resolution down to around ±1 µm, which is close to the resolution of the knife-edge technique.

Photoacoustic imaging using an adaptive interferometer with a photorefractive crystal.

In this paper we report on remote three-dimensional photoacoustic imaging without the need for a coupling agent or other aids (e.g. detector foils) by utilizing a two-wave mixing interferometer (TWMI). In this technique the beams coming from sample and reference are brought to interfere in a Bi12SiO20 photorefractive crystal (PRC). Such a setup allows the measurement of ultrasonic displacements on rough sample surfaces. After data acquisition the initial pressure distribution is reconstructed by a Fourier domain synthetic aperture focusing technique (FSAFT). We present three-dimensional imaging of a hair ribbon phantom, on biological samples with embedded artificial blood vessels or pig bristles, and measurements on a human forearm in-vivo.

Remote photoacoustic imaging on solid material using a two-wave mixing interferometer.

We report on remote and contactless photoacoustic imaging (PAI) for the inspection of solid materials using a two-wave mixing interferometer. In this Letter, a semitransparent sample was excited with picosecond laser pulses. The local absorption of the electromagnetic radiation led to generation of broadband ultrasonic waves inside the sample. Ultrasonic waves arriving at the sample surface were detected utilizing a two-wave mixing interferometer. After data acquisition, the initial pressure distribution was reconstructed using a Fourier space synthetic aperture technique algorithm. We show the potential of PAI for the inspection of semitransparent solid materials.