Device and method for in vivo flow cytometry using the detection of photoacoustic waves

A method of detecting individual fast moving target objects in vessels of a living organism, comprising:

• generating a focused elongated laser beam using a lens or optical fibers as a series of consecutive laser pulses or modulated continuous radiation at different wavelengths in the x-ray spectra, visible spectra, terahertz spectra, or microwave spectra,
• detecting one or more photoacoustic, fluorescence, and scattering light signals from the individual fast moving target objects with a focused ultrasound transducers and a photodetector at a sample rate ranging between about 10 kHz and about 100 MHz;
• analyzing the one or more photoacoustic, fluorescence, and scattering light signals to determine presence of the individual fast moving target objects and at least one characteristic of the individual fast moving target objects;
• and
• triggering a therapeutic laser pulse of high energy to produce laser-induced photothermal microbubbles operable to destroy the individual fast moving target objects.

A device for detecting individual fast moving target objects in vessels of a living organism, comprising:

• a pulsed laser and an optical module configured to generate a series of consecutive laser pulses or modulated continuous radiation at different wavelengths for simultaneous generation of fluorescence, scattering light and photoacoustic signals from the individual fast moving target objects at a laser different wavelengths ranging in the x-ray spectra, visible spectra, terahertz spectra, or microwave spectra;
• at least one ultrasound transducer;
• at least one photodetector, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer and the at least one photodetector are configured to simultaneously receive fluorescence, scattering light and photoacoustic signals from the individual fast moving target objects and generate an output;
• a data recording system;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• analyze one or more of the fluorescence, scattering light, and
• photoacoustic signals to determine a presence of the individual fast moving target objects and at least one characteristic of the individual fast moving target objects;
• and
• trigger a therapeutic laser pulse of high energy to produce laser-induced photothermal bubbles operable to destroy the individual fast moving target objects.