Combined photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system
The present disclosure provides for a system that is adapted to simultaneously display photoacoustic and ultrasound images of the same object. An image combiner can perform spatial and temporal interpolation of the two images before generating a combined image. The combined image is then displayed on a display such as an LCD or CRT. The system is able to use motion estimates obtained from the ultrasound data to enhance the photoacoustic image thereby increasing its apparent frame rate, registering consecutive frames in order to reduce artifacts. The system is capable of generating combined ultrasound and photoacoustic images which are registered spatially and temporally.
1. An imaging system, the system comprising:
at least one imaging source configured to receive ultrasound and photoacoustic signals returning from a specific location on an object over a period of time;
a processor circuit in communication with the at least one imaging source,
wherein the processor circuit is configured to:
generate ultrasound image data and photoacoustic image data corresponding to the received ultrasound and photoacoustic signals;
generate a motion estimation from the ultrasound image data, the motion estimation representing motion of the object over the period of time;
adjust the photoacoustic image data using the motion estimation from the ultrasound image data; and
provide the adjusted photoacoustic image data and the ultrasound image data to a display device.
2. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to generate an ultrasound image from the ultrasound image data.
3. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to generate a photoacoustic image from the motion-adjusted photoacoustic image data.
4. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to generate a combined image from the ultrasound image data and the adjusted photoacoustic image data.
5. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one imaging source comprises an ultrasound transducer.
6. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a photoacoustic source configured to illuminate the object, thereby generating the photoacoustic signals.
7. The imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the photoacoustic source comprises a laser.
8. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the motion estimation is generated prior to scan conversion of the ultrasound image data.
9. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the motion estimation is generated after scan conversion of the ultrasound image data.
10. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:
generate an ultrasound image from the ultrasound data, generate a photoacoustic image from the motion-adjusted photoacoustic data, and
generate a combined image comprising an overlay of the ultrasound and photoacoustic images,
wherein a transparency of one of the overlaid ultrasound and photoacoustic images enables concurrent viewing of both the ultrasound and photoacoustic images.
11. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the photoacoustic image data spatially and temporally aligns the photoacoustic image data with the ultrasound image data.