Although the concept seems to be a complicated one, in reality the facts on photoacoustic technology are clear. The idea was first discovered when Alexander Graham Bell was trying to find a wireless form of communication. When items were exposed to a constant flickering beam of light, the object would emit a sound.
This was Bell's discovery almost a century ago. However, there was no practical way to transmit the conversation. The idea was dropped until recently when it was re-discovered for other uses. Today, it is known as the photoacoustic effect and is becoming well regarded in the biomedical imaging field.
Today, a new idea of combining optics and ultrasonic imaging, called photoacoustic tomography, is being theorized as being able to provide detailed images. These new scans are thought to be comparable to the MRI imaging or CT scans that are used every day in diagnosing and monitoring a number of diseases of the body.
The main difference with this new technology is that it is much cheaper to use that the standard scans. Because the scans are able to view deeper than many other options, it is hoped that with more development it will be able to aid biopsy needles to go deeper into the tissues. Optimism is strong that it will also be able to assist with gastrointestinal endoscopy and check oxygen levels in the lymph nodes in order to help determine if a tumor is benign or not.
The process in which this technology works is the use of rapid pulses in laser form onto the tissues of the body. The laser heats up the tissue and causes the cells to expand and contract emitting sound. The sound waves are then recorded and create a three dimensional picture using a computer of what lies below the surface of the skin.
Probably one of the most encouraging uses for this method is treating cancer patients. Blood cells are excellent at absorbing light and make them a perfect candidate at being able to give a high-contrast image of the vessels. It can also detect a heightened metabolic activity. These are both signs of cancer.
Ideally, researchers hope to develop a scanner that combines the ultrasound and photoacoustic images to offer physicians a crystal clear image. They believe having both of the images combined will provide the technicians with the clearest possible look at what is going on inside the body. At the current time, breast cancer patients are being monitored to follow the development of their tumors using the procedure.
This new technology seems to have been making some remarkable advances. However, there are a number of issues that have yet been answered. While the laser is able to look much deeper into the body's tissue, as the laser beams go deeper they become more difficult to read. This does limit the ability of the technology. Even though, these issues remain, the facts on photoacoustic technology are exciting many researchers on the possibilities it provides. Many believe that, with some work, it could soon replace the standard forms of Contrast Imaging.
This was Bell's discovery almost a century ago. However, there was no practical way to transmit the conversation. The idea was dropped until recently when it was re-discovered for other uses. Today, it is known as the photoacoustic effect and is becoming well regarded in the biomedical imaging field.
Today, a new idea of combining optics and ultrasonic imaging, called photoacoustic tomography, is being theorized as being able to provide detailed images. These new scans are thought to be comparable to the MRI imaging or CT scans that are used every day in diagnosing and monitoring a number of diseases of the body.
The main difference with this new technology is that it is much cheaper to use that the standard scans. Because the scans are able to view deeper than many other options, it is hoped that with more development it will be able to aid biopsy needles to go deeper into the tissues. Optimism is strong that it will also be able to assist with gastrointestinal endoscopy and check oxygen levels in the lymph nodes in order to help determine if a tumor is benign or not.
The process in which this technology works is the use of rapid pulses in laser form onto the tissues of the body. The laser heats up the tissue and causes the cells to expand and contract emitting sound. The sound waves are then recorded and create a three dimensional picture using a computer of what lies below the surface of the skin.
Probably one of the most encouraging uses for this method is treating cancer patients. Blood cells are excellent at absorbing light and make them a perfect candidate at being able to give a high-contrast image of the vessels. It can also detect a heightened metabolic activity. These are both signs of cancer.
Ideally, researchers hope to develop a scanner that combines the ultrasound and photoacoustic images to offer physicians a crystal clear image. They believe having both of the images combined will provide the technicians with the clearest possible look at what is going on inside the body. At the current time, breast cancer patients are being monitored to follow the development of their tumors using the procedure.
This new technology seems to have been making some remarkable advances. However, there are a number of issues that have yet been answered. While the laser is able to look much deeper into the body's tissue, as the laser beams go deeper they become more difficult to read. This does limit the ability of the technology. Even though, these issues remain, the facts on photoacoustic technology are exciting many researchers on the possibilities it provides. Many believe that, with some work, it could soon replace the standard forms of Contrast Imaging.
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