Automatic sound speed selection in photoacoustic image reconstruction using an autofocus approach

J Biomed Opt. 2011 Sep;16(9):090501. doi: 10.1117/1.3619139.

Abstract

The reconstruction of images in photoacoustic tomography is reliant on specifying the speed of sound within the propagation medium. However, for in vivo imaging, this value is not normally accurately known. Here, an autofocus approach for automatically selecting the sound speed is proposed. This is based on maximizing the sharpness of the reconstructed image as quantified by a focus function. Several focus functions are investigated, and their performance is discussed. The method is demonstrated using phantom measurements made in a medium with a known sound speed and in vivo measurements of the vasculature in the flank of an adult mouse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / anatomy & histology
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Mice
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Photoacoustic Techniques / methods*
  • Tomography / methods*