TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-contact elasticity contrast imaging using photon counting
AU - Zheng, Zipei
AU - Meng Sua, Yong
AU - Zhu, Shenyu
AU - Rehain, Patrick
AU - Huang, Yu Ping
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Authors.
PY - 2024/7/1
Y1 - 2024/7/1
N2 - Significance: Tissues' biomechanical properties, such as elasticity, are related to tissue health. Optical coherence elastography produces images of tissues based on their elasticity, but its performance is constrained by the laser power used, working distance, and excitation methods. Aim: We develop a new method to reconstruct the elasticity contrast image over a long working distance, with only low-intensity illumination, and by non-contact acoustic wave excitation. Approach: We combine single-photon vibrometry and quantum parametric mode sorting (QPMS) to measure the oscillating backscattered signals at a single-photon level and derive the phantoms' relative elasticity. Results: We test our system on tissue-mimicking phantoms consisting of contrast sections with different concentrations and thus stiffness. Our results show that as the driving acoustic frequency is swept, the phantoms' vibrational responses are mapped onto the photon-counting histograms from which their mechanical properties- including elasticity-can be derived. Through lateral and longitudinal laser scanning at a fixed frequency, a contrast image based on samples' elasticity can be reliably reconstructed upon photon level signals. Conclusions: We demonstrated the reliability of QPMS-based elasticity contrast imaging of agar phantoms in a long working distance, low-intensity environment. This technique has the potential for in-depth images of real biological tissue and provides a new approach to elastography research and applications.
AB - Significance: Tissues' biomechanical properties, such as elasticity, are related to tissue health. Optical coherence elastography produces images of tissues based on their elasticity, but its performance is constrained by the laser power used, working distance, and excitation methods. Aim: We develop a new method to reconstruct the elasticity contrast image over a long working distance, with only low-intensity illumination, and by non-contact acoustic wave excitation. Approach: We combine single-photon vibrometry and quantum parametric mode sorting (QPMS) to measure the oscillating backscattered signals at a single-photon level and derive the phantoms' relative elasticity. Results: We test our system on tissue-mimicking phantoms consisting of contrast sections with different concentrations and thus stiffness. Our results show that as the driving acoustic frequency is swept, the phantoms' vibrational responses are mapped onto the photon-counting histograms from which their mechanical properties- including elasticity-can be derived. Through lateral and longitudinal laser scanning at a fixed frequency, a contrast image based on samples' elasticity can be reliably reconstructed upon photon level signals. Conclusions: We demonstrated the reliability of QPMS-based elasticity contrast imaging of agar phantoms in a long working distance, low-intensity environment. This technique has the potential for in-depth images of real biological tissue and provides a new approach to elastography research and applications.
KW - elastography
KW - lasers
KW - light
KW - optics
KW - quantum parametric mode sorting
KW - tissue-mimicking phantoms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85198430537&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85198430537&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/1.JBO.29.7.076003
DO - 10.1117/1.JBO.29.7.076003
M3 - Article
C2 - 38989529
AN - SCOPUS:85198430537
SN - 1083-3668
VL - 29
JO - Journal of Biomedical Optics
JF - Journal of Biomedical Optics
IS - 7
M1 - 076003
ER -