Photoacoustic Imaging

Ever since the 1880s, scientists displayed a keen interest in learning about photo acoustics. The faint generation of sound while placing certain substances in a path of light - photo acoustics is an interesting paradigm than you could ever imagine. As of today, industries and medical field utilizes the same technology to understand the underlying structures.

Alexander Graham Bell (the famous inventor) had initially recognized and studied this activity in detail. Medical imaging is an important niche and can help a general practitioner to learn about the fundamental aspects of the human structures. This can in turn enable them to detect and provide accurate diagnosis for any medical ailment.

With the invention of laser technology, photoacoustic imaging received that much-required boost. This had ultimately helped in making the process one of the most opted form of medical imaging techniques. Photoacoustic imaging makes extensive use of lasers - non-ionizing (or harmless) types of laser pulses, when subjected to the body parts will pave the way for mediocre levels of heat generation.

Specialized transducers would absorb this heat and give rise to three-dimensional images. The image obtained will be precise, accurate and helpful for the general practitioner to detect the anomalies present in the body of the patient.

The blood contains hemoglobin, a primordial substance that helps in the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the body cells. When the laser pulse excitation occurs, there are marked temporary changes in the characteristics of the material. Doctors are already aware of these modifications and use this knowledge to find the relevant condition afflicting the body part.

Visualization of the blood vessels via in vivo photoacoustic imaging, studying the growth of tumor cells, the levels of oxygen present on the blood and the detailed study of the brain - a physician can achieve all these with the aid of photoacoustic imaging.

Photoacoustic imaging is broadly classified into two. They are the photoacoustic computed tomography (PAT) and the photoacoustic microscopy (PAM). Each has distinct uses and the physician responsible would advise the patient to opt for the required kind of imaging technique.

The construction of the associated machinery is highly complicated and makes use of complex mathematical formulae. However, a radiologist need not be aware of such intricacies. The biomedical applications of PAT and PAM vary and both are having an exciting and promising future.

The procedure is relatively devoid of any harm to the biological tissues because of the use of non-ionizing laser pulses (this was mentioned earlier). However, the technique might turn out to be slightly expensive in comparison to the other kinds of medical imaging procedures. The domain signifies the advancements in physics, mathematics and biology.

The proliferation of biomedical photoacoustic imaging and the associated high costs forced the insurance companies to offer health packages that included coverage for medical imaging techniques. The machinery involved can produce two or three-dimensional images unlike some other imaging techniques that concentrate solely on producing static two-dimensional images. Contrasting agents might be used in certain situations to generate legible images of the internal organs.

* Photo via uTwente.