Photoacoustic imaging systems can image the inside of the body with high resolution, but they were often bulky. Now, researchers have miniaturized this technology enough to fit it into a watch; The hardware can be carried in a backpack and is as light as a five-month-old baby.
Photoacoustic monitoring device that monitors intrabody blood flow
This device offers a non-invasive way to measure how well the heart is working. Photoacoustic imaging works on the principle that objects absorb light (in this case, laser pulses) and the absorbed optical energy is converted into heat.
This heat causes thermoelastic expansion, which causes detectable sound waves to be emitted. Photoacoustic imaging, unlike ultrasound, can provide high-resolution functional and structural images.
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This photoacoustic device consists of an imaging interface packed into a watch, a handheld computer, and a backpack housing the laser and power supply. The laser focus of the device is adjustable and has a resolution of 8.7 µm (micrometer), so it can image the inside of the body, the tiny blood vessels of the skin, in a field of view with a diameter of 3 millimeters.
Areas of use and future
This miniaturized device is used in community health centers disease diagnosis It can be used for long-term monitoring of blood circulation parameters in hospitals. Additionally, conditions such as skin conditions and cancer in early diagnosis can also be useful.
The researchers are working on a system with a smaller laser source and a higher pulse repetition rate, which would make the system more compact and lightweight and improve safety and resolution.
This development shows how photoacoustic technology can open new doors in the field of medicine and health and paves the way for the development of more efficient and effective medical diagnosis and treatment methods. What are your opinions about this technology? Do you think it is a useful technology? You can write your opinions in the comments section below.