Artifacts reduction on dual mode ultrasound/photoacoustic images

• Grant number: 17/14482-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: December 01, 2017
• End date: October 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Medical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Theo Zeferino Pavan
• Grantee: Guilherme Santos Pilotto Fernandes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/18854-6 - Photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging applied to tissue characterization, AP.JP
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/01420-2 - Influence of epidermal melanin content on photoacoustic imaging, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a technique used to obtain functional information at molecular levels of human tissue, with simultaneous high contrast and high spatial resolution. On PA imaging, the energy deposited on tissue by pulsed light causes a thermoelastic expansion, and the initial pressure rises, creating ultrasound waves. These waves can be detected by an ultrasound probe to generate the PA image. PA images can be easily combined with ultrasound (US) B-mode images, since both techniques use the same hardware to detect sound waves, indicating that a hybrid imaging system, capable of acquiring both imaging modalities and providing anatomical and functional information, can be developed. Thus, this project aims to develop a system to acquire and corregister PA and US images using a conventional US imaging probe attached to optical fibers responsible for illuminating the tissue. Furthermore, it is proposed to study the artifacts observed in PA images, especially those arising from the image reconstruction and clutter. To that goal, we will perform computational simulations, experiments in phantoms and in volunteers. Different signal acquisition geometries, reconstruction methods and illumination configurations will be investigated, for a better understanding of the origin of the artifacts for subsequent improvement of the obtained image quality. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ULIANA, JOAO H.; SAMPAIO, DIEGO R. T.; FERNANDES, GUILHERME S. P.; BRASSESCO, MARIA S.; NOGUEIRA-BARBOSA, MARCELLO H.; CARNEIRO, ANTONIO A. O.; PAVAN, THEO Z.. Multiangle Long-Axis Lateral Illumination Photoacoustic Imaging Using Linear Array Transducer. SENSORS, v. 20, n. 14, JUL 2020. (17/14482-8, 16/22374-8, 13/18854-6, 15/05684-0)