Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a powerful imaging modality capable of mapping the absorption of light in biological tissue via the PA effect. When chromophores are optically excited, subsequent energy loss in the form of heat generates local thermoelastic expansion. Repeated excitation from a pulsed laser induces pressure fluctuations that propagate through tissue and can be detected as ultrasound waves. By combining ultrasonic detection with optical excitation, PAI enables high-resolution image acquisition at centimeter depths. PAI is also relatively inexpensive and relies on safe, nonionizing excitation light in the near-infrared window, making it an attractive alternative to other common biomedical imaging modalities.

中文翻译：

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声震探针：光声成像的新领域。

光声成像（PAI）是一种强大的成像方式，能够通过PA效应映射生物组织中光的吸收。当生色团被光学激发时，随后的热量形式的能量损失会产生局部热弹性膨胀。脉冲激光的重复激发会引起压力波动，该压力波动会在组织中传播，并且可以检测为超声波。通过将超声检测与光激发相结合，PAI可以在厘米深度处进行高分辨率图像采集。PAI也相对便宜，并且依靠近红外窗口中安全的非电离激发光，使其成为其他常见生物医学成像方式的有吸引力的替代品。