Co-optimization method to improve lateral resolution in photoacoustic computed tomography

Zhang, Y. et al. (2022) Co-optimization method to improve lateral resolution in photoacoustic computed tomography. Biomedical Optics Express, 13(9), pp. 4621-4636. (doi: 10.1364/BOE.469744)

Abstract

In biomedical imaging, photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) has recently gained increased interest as this imaging technique has good optical contrast and depth of acoustic penetration. However, a spinning blur will be introduced during the image reconstruction process due to the limited size of the ultrasonic transducers (UT) and a discontinuous measurement process. In this study, a damping UT and adaptive back-projection co-optimization (CODA) method is developed to improve the lateral spatial resolution of PACT. In our PACT system, a damping aperture UT controls the size of the receiving area, which suppresses image blur at the signal acquisition stage. Then, an innovative adaptive back-projection algorithm is developed, which corrects the undesirable artifacts. The proposed method was evaluated using agar phantom and ex-vivo experiments. The results show that the CODA method can effectively compensate for the spinning blur and eliminate unwanted artifacts in PACT. The proposed method can significantly improve the lateral spatial resolution and image quality of reconstructed images, making it more appealing for wider clinical applications of PACT as a novel, cost-effective modality.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Marsh, Professor John and Hou, Dr Lianping and Yang, Dr Shufan
• Authors: Zhang, Y., Yang, S., Xia, Z., Hou, R., Xu, B., Hou, L., Marsh, J. H., Hou, J. J., Rezaei Sani, S. M., Liu, X., and Xiong, J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Biomedical Optics Express
• Publisher: Optical Society of America
• ISSN: 2156-7085
• ISSN (Online): 2156-7085
• Published Online: 09 August 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Optica Publishing Group
• First Published: First published in Biomedical Optics Express 13(9): 4621-4636
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
302617		Optically controlled THz phased array antennas	John Marsh	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/R042578/1	ENG - Electronics & Nanoscale Engineering