High-resolution ultrasonic imaging using an etalon detector array

A photoacoustic imaging system was built and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of high-resolution low-noise ultrasonic imaging based on parallel detection using polymer etalons. Its capability of detecting ultrasound at different elements simultaneously in the optical end was verified by imaging three 49 mu m beads. An average noise-equivalent pressure of 3.6 kPa over 50 MHz for 50 mu m diameter detection elements in a two-dimensional array with a diameter of 1.35 mm and a detection bandwidth of 75 MHz at -3 dB was measured. These results demonstrate the potential of polymer etalons for high-frame-rate high-resolution three-dimensional photoacoustic and ultrasound pulse-echo imaging. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.