Timing controller for combined photoacoustic and ultrasound imager

An imaging system, comprising:

• an illumination system adapted to illuminate a sample for generating photoacoustic signals in the sample;
• a transducer comprising an array of piezoelectric elements, and adapted to:
• (i) transmit ultrasound waves, (ii) receive ultrasound signals generated in response to said ultrasound waves, and (iii) receive the photoacoustic signals generated from said illumination system;
• a transmit beamformer adapted to be in communication with said array of piezoelectric elements;
• a receive beamformer adapted to:
• (i) receive the ultrasound signals generated in response to said ultrasound waves, (ii) receive the photoacoustic signals generated from the illumination system, (iii) apply time delays to the received ultrasound signals calculated using a round-trip propagation time of the ultrasound waves from and to the transducer, (iv) apply time delays to the photoacoustic signals calculated using a one-way propagation time of the photoacoustic signals from the sample to the transducer, (v) generate ultrasound images from the received ultrasound signals, and (vi) generate photoacoustic images from the received photoacoustic signals;
• a timing control unit adapted to be in communication with:
• (i) at least a first clock adapted to generate a time reference signal, (ii) said illumination system, and (iii) said transmit beamformer,
• wherein said timing control unit is further adapted to:
• (i) control a timing of said photoacoustic signals and a timing of said ultrasound waves, such that said ultrasound waves are transmitted between said photoacoustic signals and that the ultrasound signals and the photoacoustic signals are differently processed by the receive beamformer, (ii) prevent signal interference between said ultrasound signals and said photoacoustic signals, and (iii) control the delay time to the received ultrasound signals and the delay time to the photoacoustic signal.