Method and apparatus to enhance light illuminating intensity and diffusivity
AssigneeUniversity of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
InventorsKang Kim, Zhaohui Wang, Seung Han Ha
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Photoacoustic probes include reflective surfaces situated to redirect scattered or reflected optical radiation from a specimen surface back to the specimen. A reflective coating can reflect probe radiation while transmitting visible radiation so that a technician can view the specimen. One or more optical fibers and acoustic transducers can be secured to a lens or other substrate on which the reflective surface is defined. The light collector is configured to block scattered light so that an operator and a subject are not exposed to the scattered light.
Claims25
A photoacoustic probe for delivering optical pulses to a target and receiving associated acoustic signals, the probe comprising:
- a light collector situated along an axis, the light collector defining a reflective surface on an inner or an outer surface of a concave shell situated to direct portions of an optical beam received from the target so as to return to the target, the reflective surface including:
- an optical input aperture defined in the reflective surface so as to couple the optical pulses to the target through a volume defined by the reflective surface and a reflective surface output aperture, and
- an acoustic aperture defined in the reflective surface and situated to receive acoustic signals produced at the target in response to the optical pulses and transmitted by the reflective surface output aperture to the volume defined by the reflective surface and the reflective surface output aperture;
- and
- an acoustic transducer situated at the acoustic aperture, wherein the acoustic transducer is secured to the concave shell, and an optical fiber is secured to the concave shell and configured to deliver the optical pulses to the target through the reflective surface output aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.