Adaptive dual-speed ultrasound and photoacoustic computed tomography

Abstract

Full-ring dual-modal ultrasound and photoacoustic computed tomography has unique advantages of nearly isotropic spatial resolution, complementary contrast, deep penetration, and full-view detection. However, the imaging quality may be deteriorated by the inaccurate sound speed estimation. Automatic determining and compensation for sound speed has been a long-standing problem in image reconstruction. Here, we present new adaptive dual-speed ultrasound and photoacoustic computed tomography (ADS-USPACT) to address this challenge. The system features full-view coverage (360°), high-speed dual-modal imaging (10-Hz), automated dual sound speed correction, and synergistic high imaging quality. To correct the sound speed, we develop a two-compartment method that can automatically segment the sample boundary and search for the optimal sound speed based on the rich ultrasonic pulse-echo signals. The method does not require the operator's intervention. We validate this technique in numerical simulation, phantom study, and in vivo experiments. The ADS-USPACT represents significant progress in dual-modal imaging.