Methods and system for characterizing an object

A non-transitory computer-accessible medium which includes computer executable instructions for determining at least one characteristic of a target object located behind or within a medium, wherein, when a hardware processing arrangement executes the instructions, the processing arrangement is configured to execute procedures comprising:

• identifying a reference object that is located behind or within the medium;
• causing an irradiation on the target object and the reference object via a surface of the medium using at least one electromagnetic wave;
• measuring at least one acoustic signal provided from an irradiated tissue volume that is responsive to the at least one electromagnetic wave;
• obtaining a calibration information from the acoustic signal measured from the reference object on at least one known property of the reference object;
• and
• determining the at least one characteristic of the target object based on the calibration information and the acoustic signal from the target object;
• wherein the target object includes at least one of a pulmonary artery or a vein, and the reference object includes at least one of an aorta or an artery.

A method for determining at least one characteristic of a target object located behind or within a medium, comprising:

• identifying a reference object that is located behind or within the medium;
• irradiating the target object and the reference object via a surface of the medium using at least one electromagnetic wave;
• measuring acoustic signals provided from an irradiated tissue volume of the target and reference objects responsive to the at least one electromagnetic wave;
• obtaining a calibration information from at least one of the acoustic signals measured from the reference object based on at least one known property of the reference object;
• and
• determining the at least one characteristic of the target object based on the calibration information and the acoustic signal from the target object;
• wherein the target object includes at least one of a pulmonary artery or a vein, and the reference object includes at least one of an aorta or an artery.