Endoscopic dual-modality photoacoustic (PA) and ultrasound (US) imaging has the capability of providing morphology and molecular information simultaneously. An ultrasonic transducer was applied for detecting PA signals and performing US imaging which determines the sensitivity and performance of a dual-modality PA/US system. In our study, a miniature single element 32-MHz lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) epoxy 1–3 composite based ultrasonic transducer was developed. A miniature endoscopic probe based on this transducer has been fabricated. Using the dual modality PA/US system with a PMN-PT/epoxy 1–3 composite based ultrasonic transducer, phantom and in vivo animal studies have been conducted to evaluate the performance. The preliminary results show enhanced bandwidths of the new ultrasonic transducer and improved signal-to-noise ratio of PA and US images of rat colorectal wall compared with PMN-PT and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) composite based ultrasonic transducers.

内窥镜双模态光声（PA）和超声（US）成像具有同时提供形态学和分子信息的能力。超声换能器用于检测PA信号并执行US成像，从而确定双模态PA / US系统的灵敏度和性能。在我们的研究中，开发了一种微型单元素32MHz铌酸镁铅-钛酸铅（PMN-PT）环氧1-3复合环氧树脂超声换能器。已经制造了基于该换能器的微型内窥镜探头。将双模态PA / US系统与基于幻影和体内的PMN-PT /环氧1-3复合超声换能器一起使用已经进行了动物研究以评估性能。初步结果显示，与基于PMN-PT和锆钛酸铅（PZT）复合材料的超声换能器相比，新型超声换能器的带宽增加，大鼠大肠壁的PA和US图像的信噪比得到改善。