Eigenspace-Based Minimum Variance Combined with Delay Multiply and Sum Beamformer: Application to Linear-Array Photoacoustic Imaging

In Photoacoustic imaging, Delay-and-Sum (DAS) algorithm is the most commonly used beamformer. However, it leads to a low resolution and high level of sidelobes. Delay-Multiply-and-Sum (DMAS) was introduced to provide lower sidelobes compared to DAS. In this paper, to improve the resolution and sidelobes of DMAS, a novel beamformer is introduced using Eigenspace-Based Minimum Variance (EIBMV) method combined with DMAS, namely EIBMV-DMAS. It is shown that expanding the DMAS algebra leads to several terms which can be interpreted as DAS. Using the EIBMV adaptive beamforming instead of the existing DAS (inside the DMAS algebra expansion) is proposed to improve the image quality. EIBMV-DMAS is evaluated numerically and experimentally. It is shown that EIBMV-DMAS outperforms DAS, DMAS and EIBMV in terms of resolution and sidelobes. In particular, at the depth of 11 mm of the experimental images, EIBMV-DMAS results in about 113 dB and 50 dB sidelobe reduction, compared to DMAS and EIBMV, respectively. At the depth of 7 mm, for the experimental images, the quantitative results indicate that EIBMV-DMAS leads to improvement in Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of about 75% and 34%, compared to DMAS and EIBMV, respectively.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1709.0796

Importance Sampling based Monte Carlo simulation of time domain optical coherence tomography with embedded objects

Monte Carlo simulation for light propagation in biological tissue is widely used to study light–tissue interaction. Simulation for optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies requires handling of embedded objects of various shapes. In this work, time-domain OCT simulations for multilayered tissue with embedded objects (such as sphere, cylinder, ellipsoid, and cuboid) was done. Improved importance sampling (IS) was implemented for the proposed OCT simulation for faster speed. At first, IS was validated against standard and angular biased Monte Carlo methods for OCT. Both class I and class II photons were in agreement in all the three methods. However, the IS method had more than tenfold improvement in terms of simulation time. Next, B-scan images were obtained for four types of embedded objects. All the four shapes are clearly visible from the B-scan OCT images. With the improved IS B-scan OCT images of embedded objects can be obtained with reasonable simulation time using a standard desktop computer. User-friendly, C-based, Monte Carlo simulation for tissue layers with embedded objects for OCT (MCEO-OCT) will be very useful for time-domain OCT simulations in many biological applications.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Accepted versio

Monte Carlo simulation of light transport in turbid medium with embedded object : spherical, cylindrical, ellipsoidal, or cuboidal objects embedded within multilayered tissues

Monte Carlo modeling of light transport in multilayered tissue (MCML) is modified to incorporate objects of various shapes (sphere, ellipsoid, cylinder, or cuboid) with a refractive-index mismatched boundary. These geometries would be useful for modeling lymph nodes, tumors, blood vessels, capillaries, bones, the head, and other body parts. Mesh-based Monte Carlo (MMC) has also been used to compare the results from the MCML with embedded objects (MCML-EO). Our simulation assumes a realistic tissue model and can also handle the transmission/reflection at the object-tissue boundary due to the mismatch of the refractive index. Simulation of MCML-EO takes a few seconds, whereas MMC takes nearly an hour for the same geometry and optical properties. Contour plots of fluence distribution from MCML-EO and MMC correlate well. This study assists one to decide on the tool to use for modeling light propagation in biological tissue with objects of regular shapes embedded in it. For irregular inhomogeneity in the model (tissue), MMC has to be used. If the embedded objects (inhomogeneity) are of regular geometry (shapes), then MCML-EO is a better option, as simulations like Raman scattering, fluorescent imaging, and optical coherence tomography are currently possible only with MCML.Published versio

Monte Carlo simulation of light transport in tissue for optimizing light delivery in photoacoustic imaging of the sentinel lymph node

Noninvasive or minimally invasive identification of sentinel lymph node (SLN) is essential to reduce the surgical effects of SLN biopsy. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging of SLN in animal models has shown its promise for clinical use in the future. Here, we present a Monte Carlo simulation for light transport in the SLN for various light delivery configurations with a clinical ultrasound probe. Our simulation assumes a realistic tissue layer model and also can handle the transmission/reflectance at SLN-tissue boundary due to the mismatch of refractive index. Various light incidence angles show that for deeply situated SLNs the maximum absorption of light in the SLN is for normal incidence. We also show that if a part of the diffused reflected photons is reflected back into the skin using a reflector, the absorption of light in the SLN can be increased significantly to enhance the PA signal.Published versio

Advances in Monte Carlo simulation for light propagation in tissue

Monte Carlo (MC) simulation for light propagation in tissue is the gold standard for studying the light propagation in biological tissue and has been used for years. Interaction of photons with a medium is simulated based on its optical properties. New simulation geometries, tissue-light interaction methods, and recording techniques are designed recently. Applications, such as whole mouse body simulations for fluorescence imaging, eye model for blood vessel imaging, skin model for terahertz imaging, human head model for sinus imaging, have emerged. Here, we review the technical advances and recent applications of MC simulation.Accepted versio

Hand-held Clinical Photoacoustic Imaging System for Real-time Non-invasive Small Animal Imaging

Translation of photoacoustic imaging into the clinic is a major challenge. Handheld real-time clinical photoacoustic imaging systems are very rare. Here, we report a combined photoacoustic and clinical ultrasound imaging system by integrating an ultrasound probe with light delivery for small animal imaging. We demonstrate this by showing sentinel lymph node imaging in small animals along with minimally invasive real-time needle guidance. A clinical ultrasound platform with access to raw channel data allows the integration of photoacoustic imaging leading to a handheld real-time clinical photoacoustic imaging system. Methylene blue was used for sentinel lymph node imaging at 675 nm wavelength. Additionally, needle guidance with dual modal ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging was shown using the imaging system. Depth imaging of up to 1.5 cm was demonstrated with a 10 Hz laser at a photoacoustic imaging frame rate of 5 frames per second.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Published versio

Photoacoustic imaging of teeth for dentine imaging and enamel characterization

Early detection of dental caries, cracks and lesions is needed to prevent complicated root canal treatment and tooth extraction procedures. Resolution of clinically used x-ray imaging is low, hence optical imaging techniques such as optical coherence tomography, fluorescence imaging, and Raman imaging are widely experimented for imaging dental structures. Photoacoustic effect is used in photon induced photoacoustic streaming technique to debride the root canal. In this study, the extracted teeth were imaged using photoacoustic tomography system at 1064 nm. The degradation of enamel and dentine is an indicator of onset of dental caries. Photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) was used to study the tooth enamel. Images were acquired using acoustic resolution PAM system. This was done to identify microscopic cracks and dental lesion at different anatomical sites (crown and cementum). The PAM tooth profile is an indicator of calcium distribution which is essential for demineralization studies.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)NMRC (Natl Medical Research Council, S’pore)Published versio

Raman Monte Carlo Simulation for light propagation for tissue with embedded objects

Monte Carlo (MC) stimulation is one of the prominent simulation technique and is rapidly becoming the model of choice to study light-tissue interaction. Monte Carlo simulation for light transport in multi-layered tissue (MCML) is adapted and modelled with different geometry by integrating embedded objects of various shapes (i.e., sphere, cylinder, cuboid and ellipsoid) into the multi-layered structure. These geometries would be useful in providing a realistic tissue structure such as modelling for lymph nodes, tumors, blood vessels, head and other simulation medium. MC simulations were performed on various geometric medium. Simulation of MCML with embedded object (MCML-EO) was improvised for propagation of the photon in the defined medium with Raman scattering. The location of Raman photon generation is recorded. Simulations were experimented on a modelled breast tissue with tumor (spherical and ellipsoidal) and blood vessels (cylindrical). Results were presented in both A-line and B-line scans for embedded objects to determine spatial location where Raman photons were generated. Studies were done for different Raman probabilities.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Published versio

Review on Heart-Rate Estimation from Photoplethysmography and Accelerometer Signals During Physical Exercise

Non-invasive monitoring of physiological signals during physical exercise is essential to customize the exercise module. Photoplethysmography (PPG) signal has often been used to non-invasively monitor heart-rate, respiratory rate, and blood-pressure among other physiological signals. Typically, PPG signal is acquired using pulse oximeter from finger-tip or wrist. Advantage of wrist-based PPG sensors is that it is more convenient to wear. Other sensors such as accelerometer can also be integrated with it due to large area on the wrist. This article provides a review of the algorithms developed for heart rate estimation during physical exercise from the PPG signals and accelerometer signals. The datasets used to develop these techniques are described. Algorithms for denoising of PPG signals using accelerometer signals are either in time domain or frequency domain