Device and method for multispectral optoacoustic imaging

A device for multispectral optoacoustic imaging of an object, the device comprising:

• a) an irradiation unit comprising at least one laser source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation including visible and/or near-infrared light, the irradiation unit configured to irradiate the object with the electromagnetic radiation at two or more different irradiation wavelengths, said electromagnetic radiation having a time-varying intensity;
• b) a detection unit comprising one or more ultrasound detectors, the detection unit configured to detect acoustic waves generated in the object upon irradiating the object with the electromagnetic radiation at the different irradiation wavelengths, wherein at least one electromagnetic radiation absorber in the object absorbs the electromagnetic radiation;
• and
• c) a processor configured to:
• reconstruct images of the object based on the detected acoustic waves generated in the object at each of the different irradiation wavelengths;
• and
• determine a spatial distribution of at least one first concentration value, which relates to a concentration of the at least one electromagnetic radiation absorber in the object,
• wherein the determination of the spatial distribution of the at least one first concentration value is based on the reconstructed images at the different irradiation wavelengths, at least one wavelength-dependent extinction coefficient of the at least one electromagnetic radiation absorber in the object, and a linear combination of at least two model spectra, the model spectra representing wavelength-dependent basis functions of a radiation fluence or wavelength-dependent basis functions of a normalized radiation fluence.