An Ingestible Light Source for Deep Photoacoustic Imaging

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Garrett, David C., Wang, Lihong V.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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author Garrett, David C.
Wang, Lihong V.
author_facet Garrett, David C.
Wang, Lihong V.
contents Photoacoustic tomography leverages ultrasound's deep tissue penetration to retrieve optical absorption contrast well beyond the optical diffusion limit. Conventional photoacoustic systems rely on externally delivered light and are therefore constrained by optical attenuation, limiting imaging depths to several centimeters. Here, we overcome this constraint using a compact, acoustically powered device that provides optical excitation directly from within the target medium. By exploiting the weak attenuation of low-MHz ultrasound, acoustic energy is transmitted through tissue to wirelessly power a pulsed laser diode. The emitted light pulses generate photoacoustic signals that encode local optical absorption at clinically relevant depths, which could enable imaging in regions such as the gastrointestinal tract that are inaccessible to surface-based illumination. We demonstrate this approach by imaging through a 12 cm thick phantom, establishing a pathway toward deep-tissue photoacoustic imaging.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_01667
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An Ingestible Light Source for Deep Photoacoustic Imaging
Garrett, David C.
Wang, Lihong V.
Optics
Medical Physics
Photoacoustic tomography leverages ultrasound's deep tissue penetration to retrieve optical absorption contrast well beyond the optical diffusion limit. Conventional photoacoustic systems rely on externally delivered light and are therefore constrained by optical attenuation, limiting imaging depths to several centimeters. Here, we overcome this constraint using a compact, acoustically powered device that provides optical excitation directly from within the target medium. By exploiting the weak attenuation of low-MHz ultrasound, acoustic energy is transmitted through tissue to wirelessly power a pulsed laser diode. The emitted light pulses generate photoacoustic signals that encode local optical absorption at clinically relevant depths, which could enable imaging in regions such as the gastrointestinal tract that are inaccessible to surface-based illumination. We demonstrate this approach by imaging through a 12 cm thick phantom, establishing a pathway toward deep-tissue photoacoustic imaging.
title An Ingestible Light Source for Deep Photoacoustic Imaging
topic Optics
Medical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.01667