Design of optimal light delivery system for co-registered transvaginal ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging of ovarian tissue

摘要

A hand-held transvaginal probe suitable for co-registered photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging of ovarian tissue was designed and evaluated. The imaging probe consists of an ultrasound transducer and four 1-mm-core multi-mode optical fibers both housed in a custom-made sheath. The probe was optimized for the highest light delivery output and best beam uniformity on tissue surface, by simulating the light fluence and power output for different design parameters. The laser fluence profiles were experimentally measured through chicken breast tissue and calibrated intralipid solution at various imaging depths. Polyethylene tubing filled with rat blood mimicking a blood vessel was successfully imaged up to ～30mm depth through porcine vaginal tissue at 750nm. This imaging depth was achieved with a laser fluence on the tissue surface of 20mJ/cm2, which is below the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) of 25mJ/cm2recommended by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Furthermore, the probe imaging capability was verified withex vivoimaging of benign and malignant human ovaries. The co-registered images clearly showed different vasculature distributions on the surface of the benign cyst and the malignant ovary. These results suggest that our imaging system has the clinical potential forin vivoimaging and characterization of ovarian tissues.