Access Type

Open Access Embargo

Date of Award

1-1-2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Biomedical Engineering

First Advisor

Kamran Avanaki

Abstract

Preterm neonates (age) and/or with low birth weight (

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is an imaging modality which derives its contrast from differences in optical absorption coefficients of tissue through laser irradiation and acoustic detection. Therefore, PAI derives its signal directly from optical absorbers such as blood; the critical component in a hemorrhage. We discuss operation and processing methods of our Verasonics Vantage system. We then investigate thermal safety of PAI in mouse model for various laser pulse repetitions rates and illumination duration. We then develop two photoacoustic tomographic systems for eventual translation to clinic for hemorrhage detection. One system being a novel TransFontanelle Multispectral Photoacoustic Imaging (TFMPI) probe. The TFMPI probe was developed and tested on, ex-vivo and in-vitro scenarios to demonstrate improved sensitivity over traditional ultrasound. The other being a 3D hemispherical array photoacoustic computed tomography (HA-PACT) system for 3D volumetric imaging of infant brain. The system is designed and tested for feasibility on in-vitro samples.

Share

COinS