Wide-field fast-scanning photoacoustic microscopy based on a water-immersible MEMS scanning mirror

J Biomed Opt. 2012 Aug;17(8):080505-1. doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.17.8.080505.

Abstract

By offering images with high spatial resolution and unique optical absorption contrast, optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) has gained increasing attention in biomedical research. Recent developments in OR-PAM have improved its imaging speed, but have to sacrifice either the detection sensitivity or field of view or both. We have developed a wide-field fast-scanning OR-PAM by using a water-immersible microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) scanning mirror (MEMS-OR-PAM). In MEMS-OR-PAM, the optical and acoustic beams are confocally configured and simultaneously steered, which ensures the uniform detection sensitivity. A B-scan imaging speed as high as 400 Hz can be achieved over a 3 mm scanning range. Using the system, we imaged the flow dynamics of both red blood cells and carbon particles in a mouse ear in vivo. Presented results show that MEMS-OR-PAM could be a powerful tool for studying highly dynamic and time-sensitive biological phenomena.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Lenses*
  • Mice
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / instrumentation*
  • Photoacoustic Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Water

Substances

  • Water