System and method for photoacoustic tomography of joints

A method for photoacoustic tomography of a sample, the method comprising;

• delivering light to the sample from a light source;
• receiving photoacoustic signals generated due to optical absorption of the light by the sample with an ultrasonic transducer;
• varying a position of at least one of the sample and the ultrasonic transducer with respect to one another along a scanning path;
• and
• reconstructing photoacoustic images from the received photoacoustic signals.

A system for photoacoustic tomography of a mammalian joint, the system comprising:

• a light source configured to deliver light pulses to the joint;
• an ultrasonic transducer disposed adjacent to the joint for receiving photoacoustic signals generated due to optical absorption of the light pulses from the light source by the joint, the ultrasonic transducer including an annular-shaped array;
• optical fibers in communication with the light source, the optical fibers including output ends arranged along a circle adjacent the transducer array so that light in each fiber is delivered toward the center of the circle;
• and
• a control system in communication with the light source and the ultrasonic transducer for reconstructing photoacoustic images from the received photoacoustic signals.