Dual frequency comb portable photoacoustic imaging device for non-invasive medical imaging and associated methods
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, a device for non-invasive medical imaging is provided. In some embodiments, the device comprises a photonic integrated circuit scale dual frequency comb (DFC), a hand-held wand, and at least one processing element. The wand comprises at least one emission point for emitting light from the DFC at a plurality of different wavelengths and at least three sensors. The wand directs the emitted light at one or more bodily structures. The sensors are adapted to detect acoustic waves from thermo-elastic changes in one or more elements within the bodily structures. The processing element is for generating an optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves, identifying one or more elements within the bodily structures based on the optical absorption spectrum, and generating a three-dimensional image of the elements based on the optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves.
1 . A device for non-invasive medical imaging, the device comprising:
a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-scale dual frequency comb (DFC);
a hand-held wand comprising (i) a plurality of emission points for emitting light simultaneously from first emission point at a first frequency and a second emission point at a second frequency from the PIC-scale DFC and (ii) a plurality of groups of at least three sensors, wherein a first group of the at least three sensors is placed corresponding to the first emission point and a second group of the at least three sensors placed corresponding to the second emission point, wherein each of the groups of the at least three sensors is physically distinct and spatially isolated from other sensor groups, and wherein the first group of the at least three sensors is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in response to the emitted light at the first frequency, wherein the second group of the at least three sensors is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in response to the emitted light at the second frequency, wherein the hand-held wand is adapted to direct the emitted light at one or more bodily structures, wherein each of the groups of the at least three sensors are adapted to detect acoustic waves from thermo-elastic changes in at least one of one or more elements within the one or more bodily structures exposed to the emitted light from a corresponding one of the plurality of emission points; and
at least one processing element for (i) generating an optical absorption spectrum based on the detected acoustic waves from each of the groups of at least three sensors, (ii) identifying at least one of the one or more elements within the one or more bodily structures exposed to the emitted light based on the optical absorption spectrum, and (iii) generating a three-dimensional (3-D) image of the one or more elements based on the optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves from each of the groups of at least three sensors.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the PIC-scale DFC resides in the wand.
3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a base unit separate from the wand and a display element within the base unit for displaying the generated 3-D image.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the PIC-scale DFC resides in the base unit.
5 . The device of claim 4 , further comprising one or more optical fiber cables for carrying light from the PIC-scale DFC in the base unit to the plurality of emission points in the wand.
6 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one processing element resides in the wand or the base unit.
7 . The device of claim 3 , wherein communication between the wand and the base unit is wired or wireless.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least three sensors of each group comprise at least three transducers.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing element provides the generated 3-D image to an artificial intelligence algorithm.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more elements comprise two elements;
wherein the two elements comprise oxygenated blood and non-oxygenated blood; and
wherein generating the 3-D image by the at least one processing element comprises generating a 3-D image of one or more blood vessels based on the detected acoustic waves from the oxygenated blood and the non-oxygenated blood.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more bodily structures comprises an eyeball; and
wherein relatively shorter wavelengths of light are used to image a posterior portion of the eyeball and relatively longer wavelengths of light are used to image an anterior portion of the eyeball.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bodily structures comprises skin.
13 . A method for non-invasive medical imaging, the method comprising:
emitting light simultaneously from a first emission point at a first frequency and a second emission point at a second frequency from a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-scale dual frequency comb (DFC) via a hand-held device directed at one or more bodily structures;
detecting acoustic waves from thermo-elastic changes in at least one or more elements within the one or more bodily structures exposed to the emitted light from the first emission point and the second emission point via a plurality of groups of at least three sensors in the hand-held device, wherein a first group of the at least three sensors is placed corresponding to the first emission point and a second group of the at least three sensors is placed corresponding to the second emission point, wherein each of the groups of the at least three sensors is physically distinct and spatially isolated from other sensor groups, wherein the first group of the at least three sensors is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in response to the emitted light at the first frequency, and wherein the second group of the at least three sensors is configured to detect acoustic waves generated in response to the emitted light at the second frequency;
generating an optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves; and
identifying at least one of the one or more elements within the one or more bodily structures exposed to the emitted light based on the optical absorption spectrum.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least three sensors of each group comprise one or more transducers.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:
generating an optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves from each group of at least three sensors; and
generating a three-dimensional (3-D) image of the one or more elements based on the optical absorption spectrum from the detected acoustic waves from each of the three or more sensors.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising displaying the generated 3-D image.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing the generated 3-D image to an artificial intelligence algorithm.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more elements comprise two elements;
wherein the two elements comprise oxygenated blood and non-oxygenated blood; and
wherein generating the 3-D image comprises generating a 3-D image of one or more blood vessels based on the detected acoustic waves from the oxygenated blood and the non-oxygenated blood.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more bodily structures comprises an eyeball; and
wherein relatively shorter wavelengths of light are used to image a posterior portion of the eyeball and relatively longer wavelengths of light are used to image an anterior portion of the eyeball.
20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more bodily structures comprises skin.