Abstract
We present the design and construction of a prototype imaging probe capable of co-registered pulse-echo ultrasound and photoacoustic (optoacoustic) imaging in real time. The probe consists of 36 fibers of 200 micron core diameter each that are distributed around a commercial transvaginal ultrasound transducer, and housed in a protective shield. Its performance was demonstrated by two sets of experiments. The first set involved imaging of blood flowing through a tube mimicking a blood vessel, the second set involved imaging of human ovaries
ex vivo
. The results suggest that the system along with the probe has great potential for imaging and characterizing of ovarian tissue
in vivo
.
Photoacoustic images of the polyethylene tubing filled with blood.