title: Multiple passive element enriched photoacoustic computed tomography.
abstract: Recently, we presented a method using laser-induced ultrasound from an external absorber (passive element) to image the ultrasound transmission parameters of an object under photoacoustic tomographic investigation. The method suffers from long measurement times due to the requirement for a large number of views and consequently physical projections around the object. Here we propose and validate an approach that permits a multitude of views to be obtained within a limited projection scenario. The approach uses a plurality of spatially distributed external absorbers in the path of the light, that results in multiple laser-induced ultrasound sources to interrogate the object from a number of angles. This reduces the required number of rotation angles or physical projections around the object, permitting a considerable reduction in imaging time without significant degradation in image quality. The approach brings the concept of hybrid imaging of ultrasound transmission parameters together with photoacoustic imaging, into the realm of practical application.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Photonic Imaging Group, MIRA Institute, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, PB 217, 7500AE, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resink
authors.forename: Jithin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: Rene G H
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Willemink
authors.forename: Cornelis H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Slump
authors.forename: Wiendelt
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steenbergen
authors.forename: Ton G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Srirang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manohar
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D000362:Agar