title: Characterizing phantom arteries with multi-channel laser ultrasonics and photo-acoustics.
abstract: Multi-channel photo-acoustic and laser ultrasonic waves are used to sense the characteristics of proxies for healthy and diseased vessels. The acquisition system is non-contacting and non-invasive with a pulsed laser source and a laser vibrometer detector. As the wave signatures of our targets are typically low in amplitude, we exploit multi-channel acquisition and processing techniques. These are commonly used in seismology to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of data. We identify vessel proxies with a diameter on the order of 1 mm, at a depth of 18 mm. Variations in scattered and photo-acoustic signatures are related to differences in vessel wall properties and content. The methods described have the potential to improve imaging and better inform interventions for atherosclerotic vessels, such as the carotid artery.
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Department, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA; Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: jami.johnson@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Jami L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kasper
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Wijk
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Department, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabick
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Calcification; Laser ultrasound; Multi-channel imaging; Photo-acoustic imaging; Ultrasound imaging