Optical fiber probe for all-optical photoacoustic measurement

An optical fiber ultrasound probe for all-optical photoacoustic endoscopy imaging is developed. The probe has a Fabry Perot interferometer consisting of a polymer film attached at the end surface of a single-mode optical fiber. The interferometer detects acoustically-induced pressure change in the optical thickness and transforms the change into output optical power. Experimental results show that the probe functions well as a photoacoustic probe and the SNR is comparable to that of a PVDF hydrophone. Results for B-mode imaging of blood vessel phantom taken by using the fiber probe are also shown.