Receiver arrays for photoacoustic devices

A wearable apparatus, comprising:

• a platen;
• a light source system configured for providing light to a target object on an outer surface of the platen;
• an ultrasonic receiver system configured to receive ultrasonic waves generated by the target object responsive to the light from the light source system, the ultrasonic receiver system including an array of ultrasonic receiver elements, wherein the array of ultrasonic receiver elements includes a linear array of ultrasonic receiver elements having a pitch between adjacent ultrasonic receiver elements that is equal to a wavelength corresponding to a peak frequency of ultrasonic waves generated by the target object responsive to the light from the light source system;
• control means for:
• receiving ultrasonic receiver signals from each of a plurality of ultrasonic receiver elements in the array;
• applying a receiver-side beamforming process to the ultrasonic receiver signals, to produce a beamformed ultrasonic receiver image;
• and
• detecting a blood vessel within the target object based, at least in part, on the beamformed ultrasonic receiver image;
• and
• a wearable housing, wherein the platen, the light source system, the ultrasonic receiver system and the control means are included within, or attached to, the wearable housing.

A method, comprising:

• controlling, by a control system, a light source system to provide light to a target object on an outer surface of a platen;
• receiving, by the control system, ultrasonic receiver signals from each of a plurality of ultrasonic receiver elements in an array of ultrasonic receiver elements, the array of ultrasonic receiver elements including a linear array of ultrasonic receiver elements having a pitch between adjacent ultrasonic receiver elements that is equal to a wavelength corresponding to a peak frequency of ultrasonic waves generated by the target object responsive to the light from the light source system, the ultrasonic receiver signals corresponding to ultrasonic waves generated by the target object responsive to the light from the light source system;
• applying, by the control system, a receiver-side beamforming process to the ultrasonic receiver signals, to produce a beamformed ultrasonic receiver image;
• and
• detecting, by the control system, a blood vessel within the target object based, at least in part, on the beamformed ultrasonic receiver image.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions for performing a method stored thereon, the method comprising:

• controlling a light source system to provide light to a target object on an outer surface of a platen;
• receiving, by a control system, ultrasonic receiver signals from each of a plurality of ultrasonic receiver elements in an array of ultrasonic receiver elements, the array of ultrasonic receiver elements including a linear array of ultrasonic receiver elements having a pitch between adjacent ultrasonic receiver elements that is equal to a wavelength corresponding to a peak frequency of ultrasonic waves generated by the target object responsive to the light from the light source system, the ultrasonic receiver signals corresponding to ultrasonic waves generated by the target object responsive to the light from the light source system;
• applying a receiver-side beamforming process to the ultrasonic receiver signals, to produce a beamformed ultrasonic receiver image;
• and
• detecting a blood vessel within the target object based, at least in part, on the beamformed ultrasonic receiver image.