Real-time spectroscopic photoacoustic/ultrasound (PAUS) imaging integrated on a commercial scanner (Conference Presentation)

A real-time spectroscopic PAUS imaging system integrated into a GE HealthCare (GEHC) VE95 US scanner for molecular guidance of interventional procedures is reported. The system contains a compact tunable (700-900nm) diode-pumped laser operated at up to 1 kHz repetition rates with pulse-to-pulse wavelength switching capabilities and external triggering at variable rates. A unique fiber-optic delivery system was embedded into a GEHC 11L-D US linear array probe to sequentially couple laser pulses into 20 fibers using a rotational motor, enabling interleaved PA with all US modalities and advanced processing methods such as real-time optical fluence compensation, clutter rejection, and motion correction.