Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to tissue imaging devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an imaging probe that induces ultrasonic signals from tissues.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Existing solutions for imaging of tissues include ultrasound systems, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). However, apart from being costly, space-inefficient, and time-consuming, they also do not provide sufficient information for certain purposes. For instance, while CT systems provide high-resolution structural images of the body using X-rays, they do not provide functional information about the subject tissue. Meanwhile, MRIs may provide high-resolution structural and functional information using magnetic fields and radio waves, but are limited by sensitivity to certain tissues, such as bone, and can be time-consuming. Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) provides high-resolution images of blood vessels but does not provide functional information on tissues around the vessels. Ultrasound systems provide functional and structural information, but provide lower-resolution images and are sensitive to bones. Ultrasound systems also provide images in only 2 dimensions, thereby causing difficulties in visualizing size of growths or tumours in 3 dimensions. Often, trained personnel are required to mentally visualize 3 dimensional perspectives of 2 dimensional images, and draw conclusions on the health of the tissue thereon.
[0004] Further, all existing solutions provide images with low contrast, thereby making it difficult to distinguish between different types of tissues in the images. Existing solutions also do not provide sufficient spatial information through the images. Spatial resolutions in MRIs range from a few millimetres to a few centimetres, depending on the specific imaging sequence and the strength of the magnetic field used. Spatial resolutions in CT system are also limited by the slice thickness and size of the X-ray beam. Similarly, ultrasound and MRA systems also provide spatial resolutions in the order of a few millimetres.
[0005] Additionally, existing solutions are heavy and consume a very large spatial footprint. MRI, MRA and CT machines typically weigh about 3-7 tons and ultrasound systems weigh about 100-150kgs, thereby making them difficult to move and impractical for in-vivo imaging for test subjects in lab or during surgery. Further, all the aforementioned systems are generally used for specific purposes, and are difficult to integrate each of their functionalities in a single device or a system.
[0006] There is, therefore, a need for an imaging device that addresses the aforementioned shortcomings of existing solutions.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are listed herein below.
[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe device.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that uses ultrasounds and photoacoustic signals to reconstruct images of a tissue.
[0010] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that is cheap, light, portable and has versatile applications.
[0011] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that creates images with a spatial resolution between about >= 100 Micrometres (um) to < 1mm.
[0012] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that provides greater contrast between different tissues on reconstructed images.
[0013] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that provides real-time images of internal tissues in a non-invasive manner.
[0014] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device for including, but not limited to, cancer diagnosis, wound assessment, and imaging of blood vessels, structural and functional visualization of tissues, abdominal imaging, obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiology and the like.
[0015] The other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated for illustration of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

SUMMARY
[0016] Aspects of the present disclosure relates generally to tissue imaging devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an imaging probe that induces ultrasonic signals from tissues.
[0017] In an aspect, a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe may include a set of transducers that may be configured to emit a first set of ultrasonic signals directed towards a surface of a tissue, and detect a second set of ultrasonic signals reflected from the tissue. The imaging probe may also include one or more light emitting units configured to emit light on the surface of the tissue to cause said tissue to produce a third set of ultrasonic signals as a result of expansion and contraction of said tissue due to absorption of light emitted by the one or more light emitting units. Further, the imaging probe may include a control unit configured to controllably cause the set of transducers to emit the first set of ultrasonic signals directed at the tissue and the one or more light emitting units to emit light on the surface of the tissue whereby said tissue reflects the second set of ultrasonic signals and produces the third set of ultrasonic signals, which may be detected by the set of transducers and transmitted as one or more electric signals to the control unit, the control unit being configured to reconstruct one or more sets of images of the tissue based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of signals received by the set of transducers.
[0018] In an embodiment, the set of transducers may be configured to a transmission (TX) beamformer, the TX beamformer having a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) circuit that converts a digital signal from the control unit into a first analog signal, and transmits the first analog signal to each of the transducers in the set of transducers via a transmitter (TX) analog frontend that filters and amplifies the first analog signal, and a High Voltage (HV) Pulse generator that provides a high voltage pulse based on the first analog signal to excite each of the transducers in the set of transducers.
[0019] In an embodiment, the control unit may be controllably configured to the TX beamformer such that the control unit controls the timing, direction and amplitude of the first analog signals sent from the TX beamformer to the set of transducers using a set of beamforming algorithms based on any one or more of the location of the tissue, the properties of the tissue, and optimizations required for imaging a specific area of the tissue.
[0020] In an embodiment, each of the transducers in the set of transducers may be a piezoelectric transducer configured to emit ultrasonic signals between about 2 MHz to about 8 MHz.
[0021] In an embodiment, each of the one or more light emitting units may be housed in a corresponding arm configured to a main housing, each of the one or more light emitting units may include, a light emitter configured to emit light. The lighting emitter unit may also include one or more lenses configured to amplify, focus and direct the light emitted by the light emitter on the surface of the tissue such that the tissue generates the third set of ultrasonic signals indicative of photoacoustic signals due to rapid contraction and expansion caused by absorption of the emitted light.
[0022] In an embodiment, the light emitter may include a pulsed laser driver configured to emit focused pulsed lasers between about 780 Nm to 1060 Nm on the surface of the tissue.
[0023] In an embodiment, the set of transducers may include a switch that switches each of the set of transducers from a transmitter (TX) mode where the transducer emits the first set of ultrasonic signals to a receiver (RX) mode to detect the second set of ultrasonic signals reflected from the tissue.
[0024] In an embodiment, the set of transducers generates a voltage indicative of a second analog signal on receiving one or more ultrasonic signals indicative of any one or more of the second set of ultrasonic signals or the third set of ultrasonic signals from the tissue, the second analog signal being amplified, filter and delayed by a receiver (RX) frontend and passed on to a receiver (RX) beamformer that combines the one or more ultrasonic signals detected by each transducer in the set of transducers such that the signals from a desired directions may be reinforced and the signals from other directions may be delayed, filtered and amplified to form a beam of ultrasonic signals, which may be interpreted by the control unit to form the one or more photoacoustic-ultrasound images.
[0025] In an embodiment, the control unit may include a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory may include processor-executable instructions, which on execution, cause the processor to: controllably excite the set of transducers to emit ultrasonic signals via a transmitter (TX) beamformer using one or more beamforming algorithms and controllably cause the light emitting unit to emit light on the surface of the tissue. The processor may then receive, via a receiver (RX) beamformer, the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals from the tissue detected by the set of transducers. The processor may also process the received second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals, and reconstruct the one or more sets of images, said sets of images being indicative of one or more ultrasound images reconstructed based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and one or more photoacoustic images reconstructed based on the third set of ultrasonic signals.
[0026] In an embodiment, the imaging probe may include a wireless communication means to transmit the one or more photoacoustic-ultrasonic images to a remote computing device as a set of data packets.
[0027] In an embodiment, the imaging probe may include a shifter unit that controllably shifts the imaging probe between an ultrasound mode where the imaging probe reconstructs one or more ultrasound images, and a photoacoustic mode where the imaging probe reconstructs the one or more photoacoustic images.
[0028] In an aspect, a method for reconstructing photoacoustic-ultrasound images of a tissue may include: emitting a first set of ultrasonic signals using a set of transducers of an imaging probe to cause the tissue to reflect a second set of signals and emitting light using one or more light emitting units of the imaging probe to induce the tissue to produce a third set of ultrasonic signals. The method may further include receiving the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals via the set of transducers. The method also includes filtering, amplifying and beamforming the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals via a receiver (RX) beamformer of the imaging probe, and reconstructing, via a control unit of the imaging probe, one or more sets of images, said sets of images being indicative of one or more ultrasound images reconstructed based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and one or more photoacoustic images reconstructed based on the third set of ultrasonic signals.
[0029] In an embodiment, emitting the first set of ultrasonic signals may include controlling, via the control unit, timing, direction and amplitude of a first analog signals sent from a transmission (TX) beamformer to the set of transducers using a set of beamforming algorithms based on any one or more of location of the tissue, properties of the tissue, and optimizations required for imaging a specific area of the tissue.
[0030] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrate exemplary representations of the disclosed photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrate exemplary representations of internal components of the disclosed photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrate block-diagram representations of a control unit, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 4 illustrate an exemplary flowchart representation of a method for reconstructing photoacoustic-ultrasound images, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0037] Embodiments explained herein relate generally to tissue imaging devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an imaging probe that induces ultrasonic signals from tissues.
[0038] In an aspect, a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe may include a set of transducers that may be configured to emit a first set of ultrasonic signals directed towards a surface of a tissue, and detect a second set of ultrasonic signals reflected from the tissue. The imaging probe may also include one or more light emitting units configured to emit light on the surface of the tissue to cause said tissue to produce a third set of ultrasonic signals as a result of expansion and contraction of said tissue due to absorption of light emitted by the one or more light emitting units. Further, the imaging probe may include a control unit configured to controllably cause the set of transducers to emit the first set of ultrasonic signals directed at the tissue and the one or more light emitting units to emit light on the surface of the tissue whereby said tissue reflects the second set of ultrasonic signals and produces the third set of ultrasonic signals, which may be detected by the set of transducers and transmitted as one or more electric signals to the control unit, the control unit being configured to reconstruct one or more sets of images of the tissue based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of signals received by the set of transducers.
In an aspect, a method for reconstructing photoacoustic-ultrasound images of a tissue may include: emitting a first set of ultrasonic signals using a set of transducers of an imaging probe to cause the tissue to reflect a second set of signals and emitting light using one or more light emitting units of the imaging probe to induce the tissue to produce a third set of ultrasonic signals. The method may further include receiving the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals via the set of transducers. The method also includes filtering, amplifying and beamforming the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals via a receiver (RX) beamformer of the imaging probe, and reconstructing, via a control unit of the imaging probe, one or more sets of images, said sets of images being indicative of one or more ultrasound images reconstructed based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and one or more photoacoustic images reconstructed based on the third set of ultrasonic signals.
[0039] FIG. 1 illustrate exemplary representations of the disclosed photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the imaging probe 100 may include a main body 150 having a control unit 110, a set of transducers 130, one or more arms 155 connected via a corresponding connector 153, and one or more handles 160. In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may be used to reconstruct one or more sets of images of a tissue 300.
[0040] In an embodiment, the imaging probe 110 may be configured to reconstruct photoacoustic-ultrasound images of the tissue 300. In an embodiment, the imaging probe 110 may be a handheld device that can be hovered over the tissue 300 to be subjected to imaging. In an embodiment, the main body 150 may have a substantially cuboidal contour. In an embodiment, the main body 150 may have a substantially long or tall cuboidal contour. In an embodiment, the one or more handles 160 may allow a user to conveniently grip and maneuver the imaging probe 100 over the intended tissue 300 to reconstruct images of the tissue and internal organs therein. In an embodiment, the one or more arms 155 may be configured on the lateral surface of the substantially cuboidal main body 150. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the main body 150 includes four arms 155. In an embodiment, the one or more arms 155 may have a substantially cylindrical contour.
[0041] In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may be light weight, portable, and may be usable to produce images of a variety of tissue types from a plurality of locations or angles. In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may be configured to provide real time images of internal tissues in a non-invasive manner. In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may be used for including, but not limited to, cancer diagnosis, wound assessment, imaging of blood vessels, structural and functional visualization of tissues, abdominal imaging, obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiology and the like.
[0042] FIG. 2 illustrate exemplary representations of internal components of the disclosed photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the imaging probe 100 may include the control unit, a pulse generator 122, a beamformer 124, an amplifier 126, a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) 128, and one or more batteries 135. In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may also include a set of transducers 130. In an embodiment, each of the one or more arms may include a corresponding light emitting unit 140, with each light emitting unit 140 having a laser 142-1, 142-2 and one or more lenses 145-1 and 145-2. Further, the imaging probe may include a wired or wireless communication means 170.
[0043] In an aspect, a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe 100 may include the set of transducers 130 that may be configured to emit a first set of ultrasonic signals directed towards a surface of the tissue 300. In an embodiment, the set of transducers 130 may also be configured to detect a second set of ultrasonic signals reflected from the tissue 300. In an embodiment, the second set of ultrasonic signals may be indicative of the first set of ultrasonic signals being reflected by the tissue 300. In an embodiment, each of the transducers in the set of transducers 130 may be including, but not limited to, a piezoelectric transducer configured to emit ultrasonic signals between about 2 MHz to 8 MHz.
[0044] In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may also include the one or more light emitting units 140 configured to emit light on the surface of the tissue 300. In an embodiment, the light emitting units 140 may cause the tissue 300 to produce a third set of ultrasonic signals as a result of expansion and contraction of said tissue 300 due to absorption of light emitted by the one or more light emitting units 140. In an embodiment, each of the one or more light emitting units 140 may be housed in the corresponding arm 155 configured to a main body 150. In an embodiment, each of the one or more light emitting units 140 may include, a light emitter 142 configured to emit light. In an embodiment, the light emitter 142 may include, but not be limited to, a light emitting diode (LED), a pulsed laser driver, a laser diode, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the lighting emitter unit 140 may also include one or more lenses 140 configured to amplify, focus and direct the light emitted by the light emitter 142 on the surface of the tissue 300 such that the tissue generates the third set of ultrasonic signals indicative of photoacoustic signals due to rapid contraction and expansion caused by absorption of the emitted light. in an embodiment, the third set of ultrasonic signals may be indicative of photoacoustic waves generated by the tissue 300 as a result of absorbing the light emitted by the light emitting unit 140. In an embodiment, the one or more lenses may have including, but are not limited to, substantially convex, concave, prismatic contours, or any combination thereof.
[0045] In an embodiment, the light emitter may include a pulsed laser driver configured to emit focused pulsed lasers between about 780 Nm to 1060 Nm on the surface of the tissue.
[0046] In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may include the control unit 110 configured to controllably cause the set of transducers 130 to emit the first set of ultrasonic signals directed at the tissue 300 and the one or more light emitting units 140 to emit light on the surface of the tissue 300. In an embodiment, the tissue 300 may reflect the second set of ultrasonic signals and produces the third set of ultrasonic signals as a result of absorption of light emitted by the lighting emitting unit 140. In an embodiment, the set of transducers 130 may detect and transmit the third set of ultrasonic signals as one or more electric signals to the control unit 110. In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may be configured to reconstruct one or more sets of images of the tissue 300 based on the ultrasonic signals received by the set of transducers 130.
[0047] In an embodiment, the beamformer 124 may be including, but not limited to, a transceiver circuit, the DAC circuit 128, the high voltage (HV) pulse generator 122, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the beamformer 124 may also include a transmission (TX) beamformer 124A and a receiver (RX) beamformer 124B. In an embodiment, the set of transducers 130 may be configured to a TX beamformer 124A, the TX beamformer 124A being configured to the DAC circuit 128 that converts a digital signal from the control unit 110 into a first analog signal. In an embodiment, the TX beamformer 124A may transmit the first analog signal to each of the transducers in the set of transducers 130 via a transmitter (TX) analog frontend that filters and amplifies the first analog signal. In an embodiment, the High Voltage (HV) Pulse generator 122 may provide a high voltage pulse based on the first analog signal to excite each of the transducers in the set of transducers 130. In an embodiment, the HV pulse generator 122 may be including, but not limited to, a voltage multiplier, a voltage amplifier, an oscillator, or any combination thereof.
[0048] In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may be controllably configured to the TX beamformer 124A such that the control unit 100 controls the timing, direction and amplitude of the first analog signals sent from the TX beamformer 124A to the set of transducers 130 using a set of beamforming algorithms based on any one or more of the location of the tissue, the properties of the tissue, and optimizations required for imaging a specific area of the tissue. In an embodiment, the set of beamforming algorithms may be including, but not limited to, time delay beamforming, delay-and-sum beamforming, frequency-domain beamforming, phased array beamforming, dynamic receive focusing, or any combination thereof.
[0049] In an embodiment, the set of transducers 130 may include a switch that switches each of the set of transducers 130 from a transmitter (TX) mode where the set of transducers 130 emits the first set of ultrasonic signals to a receiver (RX) mode to detect the second set of ultrasonic signals reflected from the tissue. In an embodiment, the switch may switch the set of transducers 130 from the TX mode to the RX mode immediately after the set of transducers 130 emit the first set of ultrasonic signals.
[0050] In an embodiment, the set of transducers 130 may generate a voltage indicative of a second analog signal on receiving one or more ultrasonic signals indicative of any one or more of the second set of ultrasonic signals or the third set of ultrasonic signals from the tissue 300. In an embodiment, the second analog signal may be amplified, filter and delayed by a receiver (RX) frontend and passed on to a receiver (RX) beamformer 124B that combines the one or more ultrasonic signals detected by each transducer in the set of transducers 130 such that the signals from a desired directions may be reinforced and the signals from other directions may be delayed, filtered and amplified to form a beam of ultrasonic signals, which may be interpreted by the control unit 110 to form the one or more sets of images.
[0051] In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may be configured to controllably excite the set of transducers 130 to emit ultrasonic signals via the transmitter (TX) beamformer 124A using one or more beamforming algorithms. In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may also controllably cause the light emitting units 140 to emit light on the surface of the tissue 300. In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may then receive, via a receiver (RX) beamformer 124B, the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals from the tissue 300 detected by the set of transducers 130. Then the control unit 130 may process the received second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals, and reconstruct one or more sets of images. In an embodiment, the one or more sets of images may include one or more ultrasound images reconstructed based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and one or more photoacoustic images reconstructed based on the third set of ultrasonic signals. In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may be configured to reconstruct the one or more sets of images based on any one or more of including, but not limited to, location and direction, timing, frequency, pulse strength and pulse duration of the one or more ultrasonic signals detected by the set of transducers 130. In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may be able to produce images with a spatial resolution between about >= 100 Micrometres (um) to < 1mm. In such embodiments, the control unit 110 may also be able to provide greater contrast between different tissues on reconstructed images.
[0052] In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may include a wired or wireless communication means 170 for transmitting the one or more photoacoustic-ultrasonic images to a remote computing device as one or more sets of data packets. The communication means 170 may include, but not be limited, to various communication technologies including, but not limited to, a Bluetooth, a Zigbee, a Near Field Communication (NFC), a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), a Light Fidelity (Li-FI), a carrier network including a circuit-switched network, a public switched network, a Content Delivery Network (CDN) network, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, a New Radio (NR), a Narrow-Band (NB), an Internet of Things (IoT) network, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network and a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, an Internet, intranets, Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), mobile communication networks, combinations thereof, and the like.
[0053] In an embodiment, the computing devices may be any electronic, mechanical or computing device that allows users to receive, process and interpret the one or more images transmitted from the imaging probe 100. In an embodiment, the computing device may be any one of personal computers, smartphone, tablets, phablets, servers, and the like. In an embodiment, the one or more reconstructed images may be transmitted to the computing device via the communication means 170 such that the user of the imaging probe 110 can visualize structural and functional aspects of the tissue 300 in real time.
[0054] In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may also include the amplifier 126 configured to amplify digital or analog signals transmitted to and from the control unit 110. In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may be powered by one or more batteries 135. In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may be include a wireless charging module. In other embodiments, the imaging probe 100 may be powered through a wired power source.
[0055] In an embodiment, the imaging probe 100 may include a shifter unit that controllably shifts the imaging probe 100 between an ultrasound mode where the imaging probe reconstructs one or more ultrasound images, and a photoacoustic mode where the imaging probe reconstructs the one or more photoacoustic images. In an embodiment, the shifter unit may be including, but not limited to, one or more buttons, a sliding switches, dials, knobs and the like. In an embodiment, the shifter unit may be configured on top of the imaging probe 100 so as to easily allow the operator to shift between the ultrasonic mode and the photoacoustic mode.
[0056] FIG. 3 illustrate block-diagram representations of a control unit 110, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0057] In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may include a processor 112 that is communicably configured to a memory 116, the memory 166 storing processor-executable instructions. The processor 112 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and/or any devices that manipulate data based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the one or more processors 112 are configured to fetch and execute processor-executable instructions stored in the memory 116. The memory 116 may store one or more processor-executable instructions or routines, which may be fetched and executed to create or share the data units over a network service. The memory 116 may comprise any non-transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM, or non-volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like. The control unit may be further configured to a database 230 operatively coupled to the processor 112. In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may be embedded into the imaging probe 100.
[0058] In an embodiment, the control unit 110 may include an interface(s) 114 that may be used to receive and transmit data packets between the control unit 110, the imaging probe 100 and the remote computing devices. In an embodiment, the interface(s) 114 of may be used to exchange data packets with the platform 210 and the light sensor 150. The interface(s) 104 may include a variety of interfaces, for example, interfaces for data input and output devices, referred to as I/O devices, storage devices, and the like
[0059] In an embodiment, the modules 210 may include a beamforming module 212, a light emitter control module 214, a receiving module 216, a processing module 218, a reconstructing module 220 and other modules 226.
[0060] In an embodiment, the modules 210 may be stored within the memory 116. In an example, the modules 210, communicatively coupled to the processor 112 configured in the system 110, may also be present outside the memory 116, as shown in FIG. 3, and implemented as hardware. As used herein, the term modules may refer to an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.
[0061] In an embodiment, the beamforming module 212 may be configured to controllably excite the set of transducers 130 to emit ultrasonic signals via the transmitter (TX) beamformer 124A using one or more beamforming algorithms. In an embodiment, the beamforming module 212 may also be configured to amplify, filter and delayed by a receiver (RX) frontend and passed on to a receiver (RX) beamformer 124B that combines the one or more ultrasonic signals indicative of any one or more of the second set and third set of ultrasonic signals detected by each transducer in the set of transducers 130 such that the signals from a desired directions may be reinforced and the signals from other directions may be delayed, filtered and amplified to form a beam of ultrasonic signals, which may be interpreted by the control unit 110 to form the one or more sets of images.
[0062] In an embodiment, the light emitter control module 214 may be configured to controllably cause the light emitting units 140 to emit light on the surface of the tissue 300. In an embodiment, the light emitter control module 214 may be configured to cause the light emitting units 140 to emit light that is tuned to a specific wavelength range that is suitable for tissue imaging.
[0063] In an embodiment, the receiving module 216 may be configured to receive the second set and third set of signals detected by the set of transducers 130. In an embodiment, the processing module 218 may process the set of ultrasonic signals received by the receiving module 216 to amplify, filter and preprocess the said set of ultrasonic signals for reconstructing the image. In an embodiment, the processing module 218 may also combine the one or more ultrasonic signals detected by the set of transducers 130 such that the signals from a desired directions may be reinforced and the signals from other directions may be delayed, filtered and amplified to form a beam of ultrasonic signals, which may be interpreted by the control unit 110 to form the one or more photoacoustic-ultrasound images.
[0064] In an embodiment, the reconstructing module 220 may reconstruct the one or more sets of images from the set of ultrasonic signals received by the receiving module 216. In an embodiment, the one or more sets of images may include one or more ultrasound images reconstructed based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and one or more photoacoustic images reconstructed based on the third set of ultrasonic signals. In an embodiment, the reconstructing module 220 may reconstruct the one or more sets of images using an imaging algorithm such as, but not limited to, beamforming, delay-and-sum and/or filtered back projection.
[0065] In an embodiment, the other modules 226 may include a data storage module, a communication module, a user interface module, a display module and other modules.
[0066] FIG. 4 illustrate an exemplary flowchart representation of a method 400 for reconstructing photoacoustic-ultrasound images, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0067] At step 402, the method 400 includes emitting a first set of ultrasonic signals using a set of transducers 130 of an imaging probe 100 to cause a tissue 300 to reflect a second set of signals. In an embodiment, emitting the first set of ultrasonic signals may include controlling, via the control unit 110, timing, direction and amplitude of a first analog signals sent from a transmission (TX) beamformer 124A to the set of transducers 130 using a set of beamforming algorithms based on any one or more of location of the tissue, properties of the tissue, and optimizations required for imaging a specific area of the tissue 300.
[0068] At step 404, the method 400 includes emitting light using one or more light emitting units 140 of the imaging probe 100 to induce the tissue 300 to produce a third set of ultrasonic signals.
[0069] At step 406, the method 400 includes receiving the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals via the set of transducers 130.
[0070] At step 408, the method 400 includes filtering, amplifying and beamforming the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals via a receiver (RX) beamformer 124B of the imaging probe 100.
[0071] At step 410, the method 400 includes reconstructing, via a control unit 110 of the imaging probe 100, one or more sets of images, the one or more sets of images being indicative of one or more ultrasound images reconstructed based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and one or more photoacoustic images reconstructed based on the third set of ultrasonic signals.
[0072] The order in which the method 400 is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks may be combined or otherwise performed in any order to implement the method 400, or alternate methods. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the method 400 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the method 400 may be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, that exists in the related art or that is later developed. A person of skill in the art will understand that method 400 may be modified appropriately for implementation in various manners without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
[0073] Therefore, the present disclosure solves the need for an imaging device that addresses the aforementioned shortcomings of existing solutions.
[0074] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0075] The present disclosure provides a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe device.
[0076] The present disclosure provides a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that uses ultrasounds and photoacoustic signals to reconstruct images of a tissue.
[0077] The present disclosure provides a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that is cheap, light, portable and has versatile applications.
[0078] The present disclosure provides a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that creates images with a spatial resolution between about >= 100 Micrometres (um) to < 1mm.
[0079] The present disclosure provides a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that provides greater contrast between different tissues on reconstructed images.
[0080] The present disclosure provides a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device that provides real time images of internal tissues in a non-invasive manner.

[0081] The present disclosure provides a photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging device for including, but not limited to, cancer diagnosis, wound assessment, imaging of blood vessels, structural and functional visualization of tissues, abdominal imaging, obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiology and the like.
, Claims:1. A photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe, comprising:
a set of transducers that are configured to emit a first set of ultrasonic signals directed towards a surface of a tissue, and detect a second set of ultrasonic signals reflected from the tissue;
one or more light emitting units configured to emit light on the surface of the tissue to cause said tissue to produce a third set of ultrasonic signals as a result of expansion and contraction of said tissue due to absorption of light emitted by the one or more light emitting units; and
a control unit configured to controllably cause the set of transducers to emit the first set of ultrasonic signals directed at the tissue and the one or more light emitting units to emit light on the surface of the tissue whereby said tissue reflects the second set of ultrasonic signals and produces the third set of ultrasonic signals, which are detected by the set of transducers and transmitted as one or more electric signals to the control unit, the control unit being configured to reconstruct one or more sets of images corresponding to the tissue based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and third set of ultrasonic signals received by the set of transducers.

2. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of transducers is configured to a transmission (TX) beamformer, the TX beamformer having a Digital-to-Analog Converter circuit that converts a digital signal from the control unit into a first analog signal, and transmits the first analog signal to each of the transducers in the set of transducers via a transmitter (TX) analog frontend that filters and amplifies the first analog signal, and a High Voltage (HV) Pulse generator that provides a high voltage pulse based on the first analog signal to excite each of the transducers in the set of transducers.

3. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit is controllably configured to the TX beamformer such that the control unit controls the timing, direction and amplitude of the first analog signals sent from the TX beamformer to the set of transducers using a set of beamforming algorithms based on any one or more of location of the tissue, the properties of the tissue, and optimizations required for imaging a specific area of the tissue.

4. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the transducers in the set of transducers is a piezoelectric transducer configured to emit ultrasonic signals between about 2 MHz to 8 MHz.

5. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more light emitting units are housed in a corresponding arm configured to a main housing, each of the one or more light emitting units comprising:
a light emitter configured to emit light; and
one or more lenses configured to amplify, focus and direct the light emitted by the light emitter on the surface of the tissue such that the tissue generates the third set of ultrasonic signals indicative of photoacoustic signals due to rapid contraction and expansion caused by absorption of the emitted light.

6. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light emitter comprises a pulsed laser driver configured to emit focused pulsed lasers at between about 780 Nm to 1060 Nm on the surface of the tissue.

7. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of transducers comprises a switch that switches each of the set of transducers from a transmitter (TX) mode where the transducer emits the first set of ultrasonic signals to a receiver (RX) mode to detect the second set of ultrasonic signals reflected from the tissue.

8. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of transducers generates a voltage indicative of a second analog signal on receiving one or more ultrasonic signals indicative of any one or more of the second set of ultrasonic signals or the third set of ultrasonic signals from the tissue, the second analog signal being amplified, filter and delayed by a receiver (RX) frontend and passed on to a receiver (RX) beamformer that combines the one or more ultrasonic signals detected by each transducer in the set of transducers such that the signals from a desired directions are reinforced and the signals from other directions are delayed, filtered and amplified to form a beam of ultrasonic signals, which is interpreted by the control unit to form the one or more photoacoustic-ultrasound images.

9. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises processor-executable instructions, which on execution, cause the processor to:
controllably excite the set of transducers to emit ultrasonic signals via a transmitter (TX) beamformer using one or more beamforming algorithms;
controllably cause the light emitting unit to emit light on the surface of the tissue;
receive, via a receiver (RX) beamformer, the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals from the tissue detected by the set of transducers;
process the received second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals; and
reconstruct the one or more set of images, said sets of images being indicative of one or more ultrasound images reconstructed based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and one or more photoacoustic images reconstructed based on the third set of ultrasonic signals.

10. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging probe comprises a wireless communication means to transmit the one or more photoacoustic-ultrasonic images to a remote computing device as a set of data packets.

11. The photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging probe comprises a shifter unit that controllably shifts the imaging probe 100 between an ultrasound mode where the imaging probe reconstructs one or more ultrasound images, and a photoacoustic mode where the imaging probe reconstructs the one or more photoacoustic images.

12. A method for reconstructing photoacoustic-ultrasound images of a tissue, the method comprising:
emitting a first set of ultrasonic signals using a set of transducers of an imaging probe to cause a tissue to reflect a second set of signals;
emitting light using one or more light emitting units of the imaging probe to induce the tissue to produce a third set of ultrasonic signals;
receiving the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals via the set of transducers;
filtering, amplifying and beamforming the second set of ultrasonic signals and the third set of ultrasonic signals via a receiver (RX) beamformer of the imaging probe; and
reconstructing, via a control unit of the imaging probe, one or more sets of images, said sets of images being indicative of one or more ultrasound images reconstructed based on the second set of ultrasonic signals and one or more photoacoustic images reconstructed based on the third set of ultrasonic signals.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein emitting the first set of ultrasonic signals comprises controlling, via the control unit, timing, direction and amplitude of a first analog signals sent from a transmission (TX) beamformer to the set of transducers using a set of beamforming algorithms based on any one or more of location of the tissue, properties of the tissue, and optimizations required for imaging a specific area of the tissue.