Device and method for optoacoustic imaging of an object

A device for optoacoustic imaging of an object comprising:

• an irradiation unit having a light source, the irradiation unit irradiating a region of interest of the object with electromagnetic radiation;
• a detection unit comprising one or more detection elements having one or more focus points and focused ultrasound transducers, each focused ultrasound transducer having a focal point, wherein an acoustic lens is not positioned at the focal point, wherein the one or more focus points of the one or more detection elements act as virtual point-like apertures in that only the acoustic waves that pass through the one or more focus points can be detected by the one or more detection elements and the one or more focus points of the one or more detection elements are the respective focal points of the focused ultrasound transducers, the detection unit detecting acoustic waves generated in the region of interest of the object upon irradiation with the electromagnetic radiation, and the detection unit detects the acoustic waves at the one or more focus points;
• and
• an intermediate surface arranged between the one or more focus points and the object such that the one or more focus points are located outside of the region of interest of the object above a surface of the object, wherein the intermediate surface is configured to be in physical contact with the object during optoacoustic imaging of the object, wherein the intermediate surface creates a fixed distance between the one or more focus points and the surface of the object, and wherein the fixed distance remains constant throughout a data acquisition process.