Implementation of a Cost-Effective, Accurate Photoacoustic Imaging System Based on High-Power LED Illumination and FPGA-Based Circuitry

Downloads

Authors

  • Maryam AHANGAR DARBAND Department of Electrical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Iran
  • Esmaeil NAJAFIAGHDAM Department of Electrical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Iran

Abstract

Imaging based on the photoacoustic (PA) phenomenon is a type of hybrid imaging approach that combines the advantages of pure optical and pure acoustic imaging, achieving good results. This method, which offers high resolution, suitable contrast, and non-ionizing radiation, is valuable for the early detection of various types of cancer. Recently, multiple studies have focused on improving different components of this imaging system. In this presentation, we implemented a simplest form of a PA imaging system for detecting blood vessels, given that angiogenesis is recognized as a common symptom of many cancers. For the first time, we implemented a high-power light-emitting diode (LED), to replace bulky and expensive lasers, and integrated circuit technologies such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for a simple LED driver circuit and data acquisition (DAQ). Using an FPGA block, we successfully generated a 200-ns square pulse wave with a repetition frequency of 25 kHz, whose amplified form can drive a high-power LED at 1050 nm for appropriately stimulating the sample. By using ultrasonic sensors with a central frequency of 1 MHz and a DAQ system with 16-bit accuracy, along with a suitable algorithm for image reconstruction, we successfully detected blood vessels in a breast tissue mimic. With the use of the FPGA-based block, the image reconstruction algorithm was accelerated. Finally, the simultaneous and first-time use of LED and FPGA-based circuit technology for driving the LED, output information processing and image reconstruction were performed in PA imaging.

Keywords:

photoacoustic imaging (PAI), light emitting diode (LED), pulsed light, breast tumor, fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA)

References

1. Agrawal S., Kuniyil Ajith Singh M., Johnstonbaugh K., Han D.C., Pameijer C.R., Kothapalli S.-R. (2021), Photoacoustic imaging of human vasculature using LED versus laser illumination: A comparison study on tissue phantoms and in vivo humans, Sensors, 21(2): 424, https://doi.org/10.3390/s21020424.
2. Ahangar Darband M., Najafi Aghdam E., Gharibi A. (2023a), Numerical simulation of breast cancer in the early diagnosis with actual dimension and characteristics using photoacoustic tomography, Archives of Acoustics, 48(1): 25–38, https://doi.org/10.24425/aoa.2023.144263.
3. Ahangar Darband M., Qorbani O., Najafi Aghdam E. (2023b), Modified algebraic reconstruction technique based on circular scanning geometry to improve processing time in photoacoustic tomography, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 65(8): 2456–2463, https://doi.org/10.1002/mop.33714.
4. Allen T.J., Beard P.C. (2016), High power visible light emitting diodes as pulsed excitation sources for biomedical photoacoustics, Biomedical Optics Express, 7(4): 1260–1270, https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.7.001260.
5. American Cancer Society (2019), Breast cancer facts & figures 2019–2020, Atlanta: Cancer Society, Inc.
6. Fatima A. et al. (2019), Review of cost reduction methods in photoacoustic computed tomography, Photoacoustics, 15: 100137, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacs.2019.100137.
7. Gao Z., Shen Y., Jiang D., Liu F., Gao F., Gao F. (2022), FPGA acceleration of image reconstruction for real-time photoacoustic tomography, ArXiv preprint, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2204.14084.
8. Hansen R.S. (2011), Using high-power light emitting diodes for photoacoustic imaging, [in:] Medical Imaging 2011: Ultrasonic Imaging, Tomography, and Therapy, 7968: 83–88, https://doi.org/10.1117/12.876516.
9. Harder I., Lano M., Lindlein N., Schwider J. (2004), Homogenization and beam shaping with microlens arrays, [in:] Photon Management, 5456: 99–107, https://doi.org/10.1117/12.549015.
10. Jo J., Xu G., Schiopu E., Chamberland D., Gandikota G., Wang X. (2020), Imaging of enthesitis by an LED-based photoacoustic system, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 25(12): 126005, https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.25.12.126005.
11. Joseph Francis K., Boink Y.E., Dantuma M., Ajith Singh M.K., Manohar S., Steenbergen W. (2020), Tomographic imaging with an ultrasound and LED-based photoacoustic system, Biomedical Optics Express, 11(4): 2152–2165, https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.384548.
12. Khosroshahi M.E., Mandelis A. (2015), Combined photoacoustic ultrasound and beam deflection signal monitoring of gold nanoparticle agglomerate concentrations in tissue phantoms using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, International Journal of Thermophysics, 36: 880–890, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-014-1773-3.
13. Kuriakose M., Nguyen C.D., Kuniyil Ajith Singh M., Mallidi S. (2020), Optimizing irradiation geometry in LED-based photoacoustic imaging with 3D printed flexible and modular light delivery system, Sensors, 20(13): 3789, https://doi.org/10.3390/s20133789.
14. Linde B.B.J., Sikorska A., Śliwiński A., Żwirbla W. (2014), Molecular association and relaxation phenomena in water solutions of organic liquids examined by photoacoustic and ultrasonic methods, Archives of Acoustics, 31(4(S)): 143–152.
15. Liu X., Kalva S.K., Lafci B., Nozdriukhin D., Dean-Ben X.L., Razansky D. (2023), Full-view LED-based optoacoustic tomography, Photoacoustics, 31: 100521, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacs.2023.100521.
16. Paltauf G., Nuster R., Frenz M. (2020), Progress in biomedical photoacoustic imaging instrumentation toward clinical application, Journal of Applied Physics, 128(18): 180907, https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0028190.
17. Ponikwicki N. et al. (2019), Photoacoustic method as a tool for analysis of concentration-dependent thermal effusivity in a mixture of methyl alcohol and water, Archives of Acoustics, 44(1): 153–160, https://doi.org/10.24425/aoa.2019.126361.
18. Van Heumen S., Riksen J.J., Singh M.K.A., Van Soest G., Vasilic D. (2023), LED-based photoacoustic imaging for preoperative visualization of lymphatic vessels in patients with secondary limb lymphedema, Photoacoustics, 29: 100446, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacs.2022.100446.
19. Tam A.C. (1986), Applications of photoacoustic sensing techniques, Reviews of Modern Physics, 58(2): 381, https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.58.381.
20. Upputuri, P.K., Pramanik M. (2017), Recent advances toward preclinical and clinical translation of photoacoustic tomography: A review, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 22(4): 041006, https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.22.4.041006.
21. Wang L.V. [Ed.] (2017), Photoacoustic Imaging and Spectroscopy, CRC Press.
22. Wang L.V. (2008), Prospects of photoacoustic tomography, Medical Physics, 35(12): 5758–5767, https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3013698.
23. Xavierselvan M., Mallidi S. (2020), LED-based functional photoacoustics – Portable and affordable solution for preclinical cancer imaging [in:] LED-Based Photoacoustic Imaging: From Bench to Bedside, pp. 303–319, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3984-8_12.
24. Xu M., Wang L.V. (2006), Photoacoustic imaging in biomedicine, Review of Scientific Instruments, 77(4): 041101, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2195024.
25. Zhu Y. et al. (2020), Towards clinical translation of LED-based photoacoustic imaging: A review, Sensors, 20(9): 2484, https://doi.org/10.3390/s20092484.
26. Zhou Q., Ji X., Xing D. (2011), Full-field 3D photoacoustic imaging based on plane transducer array and spatial phase-controlled algorithm, Medical Physics, 38(3): 1561–1566, https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3555036.