title: Label-free optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy of superficial microvasculature using a compact visible laser diode excitation.
abstract: We have developed laser-diode-based optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (LD-OR-PAM) of superficial microvasculature which has the desirable properties of being compact, low-cost, and label-free. A 300-mW visible pulsed laser diode was operated at a 405 ± 5 nm wavelength with a pulse energy as low as 52 nJ. By using a 3.6 MHz ultrasound transducer, the system was tested on carbon fibers with a lateral resolution of 0.95 µm and an SNR of 38 dB. The subcutaneous microvasculature on a mouse back was imaged without an exogenous contrast agent which demonstrates the potential of the proposed prototype for skin chromophores. Our eventual goal is to offer a practical and affordable multi-wavelength functional LD-OR-PAM instrument suitable for clinical applications.
authors.forename: Lvming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhonglie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: Shenghai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wangcun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Zhongping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054025:Lasers, Dye; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000166:cytology*; D008904:Miniaturization; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity