Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130116538 | OPTOACOUSTIC IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH ENHANCED SAFETY - An optoacoustic system and method for providing enhanced laser safety includes a laser light source, a control and processing system, a laser override, and an array of optoacoustic transducers. The laser light source is capable of generating a laser light pulse upon receiving a laser light source trigger. The control and processing system is configured to generate a laser light source trigger, to receive and process ultrasound data, and to control operation of the optoacoustic system. The control and processing system determines whether received ultrasound data reflects acoustic coupling between the transducer array and the volume. The laser override is configured to automatically prevent the generation of a laser light pulse if received ultrasound data does not reflect acoustic coupling between the optoacoustic transducer array and the volume. | 05-09-2013 |
20130168532 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE LIGHT OUTPUT OF AN OPTOACOUSTIC IMAGING SYSTEM - A system and method for adjusting the light output of an optoacoustic imaging system. An optoacoustic imaging system includes a light source having a light output control, a probe for delivering light to a volume, the probe being associated with one or more sensors, a light path operatively connected to the first light source, the light path providing light from the first light source to the probe. To avoid unsafe fluence levels incident upon the volume of interest in a clinical setting, the light output control may be set to an initial, relatively low value. After the light source is pulsed, the light output may be measured at or near the probe at the distal end of the light path. The measured light output can used to determine whether, and how much, to change the setting of the light output control. | 07-04-2013 |
20130281819 | NOISE SUPPRESSION IN AN OPTOACOUSTIC SYSTEM - An optoacoustic imaging system includes an ultrasound transducer array, first and second light sources and a switching power supply that generates power for the light sources. The switching power supply includes an input for impeding its switching operation. A data acquisition unit samples the ultrasound transducer array for a first predetermined period of time after a pulse of light from the first light source and for a second predetermined period of time after a pulse of light from the second light source and stores the sampled data. A master processor utilizes the input to impede operation of the switching operation of the switching power supply during the first predetermined period of time after a pulse of light from the first light source, and during the second predetermined period of time after a pulse of light from the second light source. | 10-24-2013 |
20130296684 | PROBE HOLDER - A holder for an optoacoustic probe includes a probe-end enclosing portion formed from material that is substantially opaque to light emanating from an optical window of a probe. The probe-end enclosing portion is sized to enclose the active end of the probe and have a snug fit therewith when the optoacoustic probe is inserted therein, and has minimal or no contact with the optical window and acoustic lens of the probe. The probe holder further includes a cutaway adapted to support the probe's strain relief under the downward force of gravity, thereby supporting the probe at an angle that provides for easy manual grasping and removal. The probe support also blocks an in-holder probe from sliding away from the probe-enclosing end. A cable guide is spaced from the probe support to accept a connecting cable exiting from the proximal end of the probe, and thus reduce pressure on the strain relief and soften the angle of curvature of the connecting cable. | 11-07-2013 |
20130303875 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY VARYING THE ANGLE OF LIGHT TRANSMISSION IN AN OPTOACOUSTIC IMAGING SYSTEM - An optoacoustic probe includes an optical window, a light path, an acoustic lens and an ultrasound transducer array. The light path operatively connects a light source to the probe, and is adapted to transmit light through the optical window at an angle of light transmission. The ultrasound transducer array includes ultrasound transducer elements, and has the inner surface of the acoustic lens at its active end. The probe is enabled to vary the angle of light transmission responsive to at least one command. In an embodiment, the light source generates a light pulse at at least one predominant wavelength. The light path may comprise at least first plurality of optical fibers. A control and processing system may be provided that is capable of pulsing the light source, causing the probe to transmit ultrasound, receiving and processing optoacoustic and ultrasound data, and controlling the operation of the system. An electrical path operatively connecting the control and processing system to the probe transmits and receives ultrasound data, and receives optoacoustic data. The control and processing system may be capable of transmitting at least one command to the probe via a control line such that the probe is caused to vary an angle of light transmission of the first plurality of optical fibers responsive to a first one of the at least one commands. | 11-14-2013 |
20130304405 | OPTOACOUSTIC COMPONENT UTILIZATION TRACKING - A serialized probe component for an optoacoustic device has a unique identifier associated therewith and includes, in an embodiment, an operative connection between a read-write memory and the optoacoustic device. Software adapted to generate and store logs in a read-write memory is executed on the optoacoustic device and stores logs concerning utilization of the serialized probe component on the read-write memory. A method for logging operational information concerning an optoacoustic device is further disclosed. | 11-14-2013 |
20140005544 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SELECTIVE CHANNEL SENSITIVITY IN AN OPTOACOUSTIC IMAGING SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140036053 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NORMALIZING RANGE IN AN OPTOACOUSTIC IMAGING SYSTEM - A system and method are provided for normalizing range in an optoacoustic imaging system. In an embodiment, the system includes adjustable amplifiers and a probe having an array of transducer elements, each of the adjustable amplifiers being associated with one or more of the transducer elements. The transducer elements are acoustically coupled with a surface of a volume. The gain on the adjustable amplifiers is changed as a function of the passage of time during a predetermined period of time after a pulse of light. A sinogram is recorded by sampling the adjustably amplified plurality of transducer elements for the predetermined period of time. The sinogram is processed by substantially reversing the changing step mathematically, and storing the results in an expanded dynamic range sinogram. The expanded dynamic range sinogram provides sufficient numeric precision to permit the reversal of the changing step without materially decreasing the dynamic range of the information in the sinogram. An optoacoustic image is generated based upon the information contained in the expanded dynamic range sinogram. | 02-06-2014 |
20140208856 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE LIGHT OUTPUT OF AN OPTOACOUSTIC IMAGING SYSTEM - A system and method for adjusting the light output of an optoacoustic imaging system is presented. An optoacoustic imaging system includes a light source such as a laser, the light source having a light output control, a probe for delivering light to a volume, the probe being associated with one or more sensors, a light path operatively connected to the first light source, the light path providing light from the first light source to the probe. Generally, the light output of an optoacoustic imaging system may be harmful to the eye, and may be subject to maximum safe fluence levels incident upon the volume of interest in a clinical setting. Accordingly, the light output control may be set to an initial, relatively low value. After the light source is pulsed, the light output may be measured at or near the probe at the distal end of the light path. The measured light output can used to determine whether, and how much, to change the setting of the light output control. The system and method may also be used for closed loop control of the light output to keep fluence levels within a desired range. The rate of change of the light output control can be varied based upon the difference between the measured fluence and the desired fluence or range. | 07-31-2014 |
20140249414 | System and Method for Mixed Modality Acoustic Sampling - Systems and methods for relaying electrical signals representing acoustic response of a volume of tissue to light and ultrasound stimulation. In an embodiment, a plurality of ultrasound transducers receive acoustic energy from the volume and generate electrical energy, which is transmitted via an electrical path to a relay system. The ultrasound transducers are operated at a wide band frequency of at least 1 MHz to 5 MHz to receive acoustic energy from the volume of tissue responsive to light stimulation and at a narrower band frequency to receive acoustic energy from the volume of tissue responsive to acoustic stimulation. The relay system relays the electrical signals to an optoacoustic system or an ultrasound instrument for further processing depending on whether the electrical signals resulted from ultrasound or light stimulation. In an embodiment, optoacoustic, ultrasound, or other images are generated from the electrical signals and may be coregistered, overlayed, or displayed. | 09-04-2014 |