# US 11,029,287 B2 · Multi-focus optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy with ultrasonic array detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,287 B2 - Document ID: US11029287B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/372,597 - Filed: 2019-04-02 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-11 - Assignees: California Institute of Technology - Applicants: California Institute of Technology - Inventors: Lihong Wang; Liang Song; Konstantin Maslov; Bin Rao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029287B2 ## CPC - G01N 29/2418: {using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics (photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046)} - A61B 5/0095: {by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements} - G02B 21/36: arranged for photographic purposes or projection purposes (G02B21/18 takes precedence){or digital imaging or video purposes including associated control and data processing arrangements (image data processing per se G06T)} - G02B 26/105: {with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors (G02B26/101 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/4064: {Evaluating the brain (for intracranial pressure A61B5/031; for cerebral blood gases A61B5/14553; using EEG A61B5/369)} - A61B 5/42: {Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems (A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence)} - A61B 5/441: {Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis} - G01N 2291/028: Material parameters - G01N 2291/106: one or more transducer arrays - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A probe for use with an imaging system, including a scanning device configured to receive a first light beam from a light source, a beam-divider configured to split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, and a focusing device configured to focus each of the second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest is disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging method, comprising: receiving a first light beam from a light source; splitting the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams using a beam-divider; focusing the plurality of second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest using a focusing device, the plurality of second light beams causing the object of interest to emit acoustic signals, wherein the plurality of second light beams and the acoustic signals are coaxially aligned on opposite sides of the object of interest in a transmission mode; and receiving the acoustic signals from the object of interest using an ultrasonic transducer array. ### Claim 2 An imaging method, comprising: receiving a first light beam from a light source; splitting the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams using a beam-divider; focusing the plurality of second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest using a focusing device, the plurality of second light beams causing the object of interest to emit acoustic signals; coaxially merging the plurality of second light beams and the acoustic signals using an optical-acoustic beam combiner; and receiving the acoustic signals from the object of interest using an ultrasonic transducer array. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging method of claim 2, wherein coaxially merging the plurality of second light beams and the acoustic signals comprises passing the plurality of second light beams through the optical-acoustic beam combiner to the focusing device and reflecting the acoustic signals entering the optical-acoustic beam combiner towards the ultrasonic transducer array. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The imaging method of claim 2, wherein coaxially merging the plurality of second light beams and the acoustic signals comprises reflecting the plurality of second light beams entering the optical-acoustic beam combiner towards the focusing device and passing the acoustic signals through the optical-acoustic beam combiner to the ultrasonic transducer array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, further comprising reflecting the first light beam towards the beam-divider using a movable scanning mirror. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The imaging method of claim 5, wherein the first light beam is reflected in a raster scanning pattern. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, further comprising generating an image based on the acoustic signals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second light beams are formed as a linear array. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signals are received by a linear ultrasonic transducer array. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second light beams are formed as a 2D array. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The imaging method of claim 10, wherein the acoustic signals are received by a 2D ultrasonic transducer array. ### Claim 12 An imaging method, comprising: receiving a first light beam from a light source; splitting the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams using a beam-divider, wherein the beam-divider comprises a transmission grating; focusing the plurality of second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest using a focusing device, the plurality of second light beams causing the object of interest to emit acoustic signals; and receiving the acoustic signals from the object of interest using an ultrasonic transducer array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the beam-divider comprises a two-dimensional lens array. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein a lens array comprises the beam-divider and the focusing device. ### Claim 15 An imaging method, comprising: receiving a first light beam from a light source; splitting the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams using a beam-divider; focusing the plurality of second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest using a focusing device, the plurality of second light beams causing the object of interest to emit acoustic signals; and receiving the acoustic signals from the object of interest using an ultrasonic transducer array, wherein receiving the acoustic signals from the object of interest using the ultrasonic transducer array comprises simultaneously receiving a plurality of acoustic signals, each acoustic signal in the plurality of acoustic signals being emitted substantially simultaneously but from a different one of the respective locations in the object of interest. ### Claim 16 An imaging system, comprising: a scanning device configured to steer a first light beam from a light source through a beam-divider, wherein the scanning device comprises at least one of a mechanically scanning mirror, a galvanometer, a polygon scanner, an acoustic-optical scanner, and an electro-optical scanner; the beam-divider configured split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams; a focusing device configured to focus the plurality of second light beams onto respective locations in an object of interest being imaged, the plurality of second light beams causing the object of interest to emit acoustic signals; and one or more ultrasonic detection devices configured to receive the acoustic signals from the object of interest. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The imaging system of claim 16, wherein the beam-divider comprises a transmission grating or a two-dimensional lens array. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The imaging system of claim 16, wherein the beam-divider and the focusing device are part of a common array of lenses, the common array of lenses lying in a common optical plane.