Photoacoustic devices configured for blood pressure estimation

An apparatus, comprising:

• a light source system configured to provide light to a target object on an outer surface of the apparatus, the light source system including N light sources;
• 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 a single array of M ultrasonic receiver elements;
• and
• control means for:
• controlling the light source system to provide light to the target object;
• receiving ultrasonic receiver signals from each of a plurality of the M ultrasonic receiver elements in the single array, the ultrasonic receiver signals corresponding to the ultrasonic waves generated by the target object responsive to the light;
• detecting an artery within the target object based on the ultrasonic receiver signals;
• and
• estimating a blood pressure within the artery based on the ultrasonic receiver signals.

A blood pressure estimation method, comprising:

• controlling, by a control system of an apparatus, a light source system of the apparatus to provide light to a target object on an outer surface of the apparatus;
• receiving, by the control system, ultrasonic receiver signals from each of a plurality of M ultrasonic receiver elements in a single array, the ultrasonic receiver signals corresponding to ultrasonic waves generated by the target object responsive to the light;
• detecting, by the control system, an artery within the target object based on the ultrasonic receiver signals;
• and
• estimating, by the control system, a blood pressure within the artery based on the ultrasonic receiver signals.