ORAL CAVITY MOUNTED PHOTOACOUSTIC SENSING UNIT
An oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit is disclosed. The sensing unit may include a light source, a photoacoustic detector, and a support assembly. The support assembly may be configured such that the light source and the photoacoustic detector are fixably located relative to the buccal or sublingual tissue of a subject.
1 . An oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit comprising:
a light source, wherein the light source is configured to transmit light to a subject, and wherein the transmitted light is capable of generating a photoacoustic response in the subject;
a photoacoustic detector configured to detect the photoacoustic response; and
a support assembly configured to secure the photoacoustic sensor unit to the subject and coupled to the light source and photoacoustic detector, wherein the light source and photoacoustic detector are fixably located relative to buccal or sublingual tissue.
2 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the light is transmitted by at least one light pipe to a target area.
3 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 2 , wherein the light pipe comprises fiber optic fibers with a diameter between 300 μm and 500 μm.
4 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 2 , wherein the light pipe comprises fiber optic fibers with a diameter between 500 μm and 900 μm.
5 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 2 , wherein the light pipe comprises fiber optic fibers with a diameter between 900 μm and 1100 μm.
6 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises one or more laser diodes and wherein the wavelength of the laser diodes is between 600 nm and 1000 nm.
7 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises one or more optical elements to direct light such that the photoacoustic response is enhanced.
8 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 7 , wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a prism.
9 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 7 , wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a diffuser.
10 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light sources, wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged around the photoacoustic detector.
11 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the photoacoustic detector comprises a linear piezoelectric ultrasound receiver array of at least one dimension.
12 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the photoacoustic detector comprises a multi-element detector array.
13 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the photoacoustic detector comprises a disk detector.
14 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the photoacoustic detector comprises an annular detector.
15 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , further comprising an acoustic transport medium coupled to the support assembly, wherein the acoustic transport medium is located at least partially between the target area and the photoacoustic detector.
16 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 15 , wherein the acoustic transport medium comprises a hydrogel, colloid, or hydrocolloid.
17 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 15 , wherein the acoustic transport medium is impedance matched to the photoacoustic response of the target area.
18 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly further comprises an adjustable cuff.
19 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 18 , wherein the adjustable cuff further comprises a bladder capable of adjusting pressure applied by the cuff to a target area.
20 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor capable of sensing a pressure related to the pressure applied to a target area by the photoacoustic sensor.
21 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises a bio-compatible solid polymer.
22 . The oral cavity mounted photoacoustic sensing unit of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises a support arm coupled to the light source and the photoacoustic detector and wherein the support arm has a hollow cross-sectional shape.