Device and method for hybrid optoacoustic tomography and ultrasonography

A method for hybrid optoacoustic and ultrasonographic imaging of an object, comprising:

• irradiating the object with electromagnetic radiation, in particular light, by means of an irradiation source,
• detecting ultrasound waves, which are generated in the object upon irradiating the object with the electromagnetic radiation, by means of a plurality of transducer elements,
• emitting the ultrasound waves impinging on the object by means of the transducer elements,
• detecting the ultrasound waves, which are reflected and/or transmitted by the object upon impinging on the object, by means of the transducer elements, wherein the transducer elements are arranged along a curved line or a curved surface,
• controlling the transducer elements to operate in different operation modes and to switch the transducer elements between the different operation modes, by means of a multiplexer, wherein:
• in a first mode (receive-only mode) receiving, by means of the transducer elements, ultrasound waves generated in the object upon irradiation with the electromagnetic radiation,
• in a second mode (transmit-and-receive mode) emitting ultrasound waves, by means of the transducer elements, and receiving, by means of the transducer elements, ultrasound waves reflected and/or transmitted by the object, and
• in a third mode (mixed mode) receiving, by means of a first subset of the transducer elements, ultrasound waves generated in the object upon irradiation with the electromagnetic radiation, emitting, by means of a second subset of the transducer elements, ultrasound waves, and receiving, by means of the second subset of the transducer elements ultrasound waves reflected and/or transmitted by the object, wherein the first subset of transducer elements is different from the second subset of transducer elements, and
• providing the multiplexer comprising a first electronic circuit designed for acquisition of ultrasound data and a second electronic circuit designed for acquisition of optoacoustic data, the first electronic circuit having a first input impedance and the second electronic circuit having a second input impedance, which is different from the first input impedance.