Ultrasound-based guidance for photoacoustic measurements and associated devices, systems, and methods

An imaging system, comprising:

• an ultrasound imaging probe comprising an ultrasound transducer array configured to emit ultrasound energy toward an anatomical feature within a field of view of the ultrasound transducer array;
• and
• a processor circuit in communication with the ultrasound imaging probe and a light source configured to emit light at an orientation with respect to the field of view, wherein the processor circuit is configured to:
• receive first ultrasound data obtained by the ultrasound imaging probe, wherein the first ultrasound data is representative of the anatomical feature within the field of view;
• identify, by image processing of the first ultrasound data, a location of the anatomical feature within the field of view;
• perform a photoacoustic measurement using the identified location of the anatomical feature within the field of view, wherein performing the photoacoustic measurement includes:
• controlling the light source to emit the light into the field of view;
• and
• processing second ultrasound data obtained by the ultrasound imaging probe, wherein the second ultrasound data is representative of photoacoustic energy generated in the anatomical feature by the light source;
• and
• output a graphical representation of the photoacoustic measurement to a display in communication with the processor circuit.