Background and Objectives: The ability to correctly visualize the architectural arrangement of microvasculature is valuable to many diverse fields in medicine. In this study, we applied photoacoustics (PA) to obtain highresolution images of submillimeter blood vessels. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Short laser pulses are used to generate ultrasound from superficial blood vessels in several animal models. From these ultrasound waves the interior of blood vessels can be reconstructed. Results: We present results from a novel approach based on the PA principle that allows specific in vivo visualization of dermal blood vessels without the use of contrast agents or ionizing radiation. Conclusions: We show PA images of externalized blood vessels and demonstrate in vivo PA imaging of vasculature through layers of skin varying in thickness. Lasers Surg.
Photoacoustic imaging is demonstrated in imaging blood vessels of a chicken embryo. Using a weighted sumand-delay beamforming algorithm we were able to reconstruct two-and three-dimensional images of these blood vessels.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.