Optoacoustic component utilization tracking

1. A system for imaging a subject comprising:

an optoacoustic device comprising: i) a waveguide and ii) a first sensor configured to provide first measurements representative of power levels of light pulses entering the waveguide;

a handheld probe comprising: i) a unique identifier and ii) a second sensor configured to provide second measurements representative of power levels of light pulses exiting the waveguide;

an ultrasound transducer array configured to receive from the subject an optoacoustic response associated with the light pulses and to generate electrical signals associated with the optoacoustic response; and

a processor that, when executing software, is configured to operate the optoacoustic device, to process the optoacoustic response to generate optoacoustic images, and to generate log entries of operational information associated with operation of the optoacoustic device during an operative measurement period, the operational information including information related to at least one of the first and second measurements.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the operational information includes at least an average difference associated with the first and second measurements.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to creating a first log entry comprising: i) time and date of the first log entry; ii) the unique identifier of the handheld probe; iii) a software version associated with the executed software; and iv) the operational information associated with the optoacoustic device during the operative period.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to identify a variation in the operation performance of the waveguide based on the operational information.

5. The system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the operational information further includes at least one of:

a count of light pulses occurring during the operative period;

a variation in performance of a discrete component of the optoacoustic device during the operative period;

a measurement of peak light energy;

a measurement of total light energy; and

a variation in absolute performance of each of a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements in the ultrasound transducer array.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the operational information further includes a variation in relative performance of each of the ultrasound transducer elements.

7. The system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

read at least one previously created log entry;

analyze the operational information contained in the least one previously created log entry to determine a baseline for the optoacoustic device;

compare the operational information associated with the optoacoustic device during the operative period with the baseline for the optoacoustic device; and

report changes between the compared operational information and the baseline for the optoacoustic device.

8. A method for logging operational information of an optoacoustic device for imaging a subject, the method comprising:

in a waveguide associated with the optoacoustic device, measuring with a first sensor first measurements representative of power levels of light pulses entering the waveguide;

in a handheld probe having a unique identifier, measuring with a second sensor second measurements representative of power levels of light pulses exiting the waveguide;

in an ultrasound transducer array, receiving from the subject an optoacoustic response associated with the light pulses and generating electrical signals associated with the optoacoustic response; and

utilizing a processor to execute software for operating the optoacoustic device, for processing the optoacoustic response to generate optoacoustic images, and generating log entries of operational information associated with operation of the optoacoustic device during an operative measurement period, the operational information including information related to at least one of the first and second measurements.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the operational information includes at least an average difference associated with the first and second measurements.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising creating a first log entry comprising:

i) time and date of the first log entry;

ii) the unique identifier of the handheld probe;

iii) a software version associated with the executed software; and

iv) the operational information associated with the optoacoustic device during the operative period.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising identifying a variation in the operation performance of the waveguide based on the operational information.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the operational information further includes at least one of:

a count of light pulses occurring during the operative period;

a variation in performance of a discrete component of the optoacoustic device during the operative period;

a measurement of peak light energy;

a measurement of total light energy; and

a variation in absolute performance of each of a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements in the ultrasound transducer array.

13. The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the operational information further includes a variation in relative performance of each of the ultrasound transducer elements.

14. The system as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising: reading at least one previously created log entry;

analyzing the operational information contained in the least one previously created log entry to determine a baseline for the optoacoustic device;

comparing the operational information associated with the optoacoustic device during the operative period with the baseline for the optoacoustic device; and

reporting changes between the compared operational information and the baseline for the optoacoustic device.