PHOTOACOUSTIC SENSING IN TISSUE USING OPTICAL SCATTERING MODULATION

Abstract

Photoacoustic microscopy is an emerging technology that holds great potential of delivering a non-invasive, high contrast, label free biomedical imaging modality as well as high sensitivity and specificity disease diagnostic technique. However, despite significant progress having been reported in refining the technique, its clinical uptake is slow. This can be attributed to a number of factors which include; complex, bulky and expensive instrumentation. It is therefore necessary to address these drawbacks in order for the benefits of the technique to be felt in the health care sector. This paper describes a simple technique for detection of induced photoacoustic pressure in tissue by monitoring modulation of scattered light in tissue during photoacoustic excitation session. The technique can be applied in diagnosis of blood related diseases such as malaria, anemia and detection of circulating tumor cells.