SignificanceEndocavity ultrasound (US) imaging is a frequently employed diagnostic technique in gynecology and urology for the assessment of male and female genital diseases that present challenges for conventional transabdominal imaging. The integration of photoacoustic (PA) imaging with clinical US imaging has displayed promising outcomes in clinical research. Nonetheless, its application has been constrained due to size limitations, restricting it to spatially confined locations such as vaginal or rectal canals.AimThis study presents the development of a video-rate (20 Hz) endocavity PA/harmonic US imaging (EPAUSI) system.ApproachThe approach incorporates a commercially available endocavity US probe with a miniaturized laser delivery unit, comprised of a single large-core fiber and a line beamshaping engineered diffuser. The system facilitates real-time image display and subsequent processing, including angular energy density correction and spectral unmixing, in offline mode.ResultsThe spatial resolutions of the concurrently acquired PA and harmonic US images were measured at 318 μm and 291 μm in the radial direction, respectively, and 1.22 deg and 1.50 deg in the angular direction, respectively. Furthermore, the system demonstrated its capability in multispectral PA imaging by successfully distinguishing two clinical dyes in a tissue-mimicking phantom. Its rapid temporal resolution enabled the capture of kinetic dye perfusion into an ex vivo porcine ovary through the depth of porcine uterine tissue. EPAUSI proved its clinical viability by detecting pulsating hemodynamics in the male rat’s prostate in vivo and accurately classifying human blood vessels into arteries and veins based on sO2 measurements.ConclusionsOur proposed EPAUSI system holds the potential to unveil previously overlooked indicators of vascular alterations in genital cancers or endometriosis, addressing pressing requirements in the fields of gynecology and urology.
Endocavity ultrasound (US) imaging is commonly used in gynecology and urology to diagnose challenging genital diseases. The convergence of photoacoustic (PA) imaging with clinical US imaging is actively explored in research due to their compatibility. However, the physical size of the laser delivery unit limits its insertion into confined vaginal or rectal canals. In our study, we performed video-rate endocavity PAUS imaging using a miniaturized probe. This achieved a fine radial resolution of 277 μm and 341 μm, and angular resolution of 1.52° and 1.23°. Multispectral PA imaging allowed quantification of a methylene blue (MB)/indocyanine green (ICG) cocktail ratio. The fast temporal resolution captured ICG infusion kinetics in ex vivo porcine ovary. Finally, we noninvasively imaged the male rat's reproductive system, confirming prostate vessel pulsation via PA and US imaging.
The X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) has revolutionized X-ray imaging with its high power, short pulse width, low emittance, and high coherence. We introduce X-ray-induced acoustic microscopy (XFELAM), utilizing the X-ray induced acoustic (XA) effect. We verified the XA effect and achieved micron-scale resolution by imaging patterned tungsten targets with drilled circles. XFELAM expands XFEL capabilities, enabling high-resolution visualization of materials and systems. This technique complements existing XFEL methods and promises advancements in fundamental research across fields. XAM’s unique features benefit materials science, nanotechnology, and biophysics, contributing to a deeper understanding of scientific phenomena and discoveries.
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