Optoacoustic imaging systems and methods with enhanced safety

Abstract

An optoacoustic system and method for providing enhanced laser safety includes a laser light source, a control and processing system, a laser override, and an array of optoacoustic transducers. The laser light source is capable of generating a laser light pulse upon receiving a laser light source trigger. The control and processing system is configured to generate a laser light source trigger, to receive and process ultrasound data, and to control operation of the optoacoustic system. The control and processing system determines whether received ultrasound data reflects acoustic coupling between the transducer array and the volume. The laser override is configured to automatically prevent the generation of a laser light pulse if received ultrasound data does not reflect acoustic coupling between the optoacoustic transducer array and the volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optoacoustic system including a laser override comprising:
 laser light source capable of generating a laser light pulse having a first predominant wavelength upon receiving a laser light source trigger;   handheld probe having a distal end;   the distal end of the handheld probe comprising at least one light exit port and a plurality of transducers, the plurality of transducers being adapted to be acoustically coupled to a volume;   light path for operatively connecting the laser light source to the at least one light exit port of the handheld probe;   a control and processing system capable of generating a laser light source trigger, receiving and processing ultrasound data and controlling operation of the optoacoustic system;   electrical path operatively connecting the control and processing system to the plurality of transducers;   the control and processing system being capable of determining whether received ultrasound data reflects acoustic coupling between the plurality of transducers and the volume;   laser override automatically preventing the generation of a laser light pulse if received ultrasound data does not reflect acoustic coupling between the plurality of transducers and the volume.   
     
     
         2 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser light source is capable of generating at least two different laser light pulses, each of the at least two pulses having a predominant wavelength differing from the other. 
     
     
         3 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 an optical window covering at least one of the at least one light exit ports at the distal end of the probe, the optical window being adapted to permit transmission of the laser light pulse to the volume.   
     
     
         4 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 1 , wherein the volume is a volume of tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 1 , wherein the volume is at least one selected from the set of: a volume of tissue, and a phantom. 
     
     
         6 . An optoacoustic system including a laser safety comprising:
 laser light source capable of generating a laser light pulse having a first predominant wavelength upon receiving a laser light source trigger;   handheld probe having a distal end;   a plurality of transducers at the distal end of the handheld probe, the plurality of transducers being adapted to be acoustically coupled to a volume;   light path for operatively connecting the laser light source to the handheld probe;   an optical window at the distal end of the handheld probe, the optical window being adapted to permit transmission of the laser light pulse to the volume;   a control and processing system capable of generating a laser light source trigger, receiving and processing ultrasound data and controlling operation of the optoacoustic system;   electrical path operatively connecting the control and processing system to the plurality of transducers;   the control and processing system being capable of determining whether received ultrasound data reflects acoustic coupling between the plurality of transducers and a volume;   laser safety automatically preventing the transmission of laser light to the volume if received ultrasound data does not reflect acoustic coupling between the plurality of transducers and a volume.   
     
     
         7 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 6 , wherein the laser light source is capable of generating at least two different laser light pulses, each of the at least two pulses having a predominant wavelength differing from the other. 
     
     
         8 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 6 , wherein the volume is a volume of tissue. 
     
     
         9 . An optoacoustic system including a laser safety comprising:
 laser light source capable of generating a laser light pulse having a first predominant wavelength upon receiving a laser light source trigger;   a control and processing system;   handheld probe having a distal end;   a plurality of transducers at the distal end of the handheld probe, the plurality of transducers being adapted to be acoustically coupled to a volume;   electrical path operatively connecting the control and processing system to the plurality of transducers;   light path for operatively connecting the laser light source to a light exit port at the distal end of the handheld probe;   proximity detector adapted to provide information concerning the proximity of the distal end of the probe with respect to a surface of a volume;   the control and processing system being operatively connected to the proximity detector such that it is capable of the obtaining information concerning the proximity provided by the proximity detector;   laser safety automatically preventing the transmission of laser light to the volume if the information concerning the proximity provided by the proximity detector is not within a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises an ultrasound mode, and proximity is detected by detecting data representative of an ultrasound image. 
     
     
         11 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein proximity detector includes at least one mechanical switch. 
     
     
         12 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises:
 an additional light source; and   at least one optical switch sensitive to the light of the additional light source;   wherein light from the additional light source becomes incident upon the at least one optical switch by reflection from the surface of the volume.   
     
     
         13 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one optical switch detects reflection of at least a portion of the laser light pulse having a first predominant wavelength. 
     
     
         14 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises:
 at least one conductive switch, wherein the state of the conductive switch is changed by contact with the volume, including any acoustic gel or other material in conductive contact with the volume.   
     
     
         15 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises:
 a standoff having a conductive surface;   at least one conductive switch;   wherein the state of the conductive switch is changed by contact with the conductive surface of the standoff.   
     
     
         16 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises:
 a thin, optically and acoustically transparent, conductive surface applied to the surface of a volume; and   at least one conductive switch;   wherein the state of the conductive switch is changed by contact with the conductive surface.   
     
     
         17 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises:
 at least one acoustic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasound; and   wherein the proximity detector detects proximity based upon a differential between at least one characteristic of the transmitted sound and at least one characteristic of the received sound.   
     
     
         18 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one acoustic transducer is one of the plurality of transducers at the distal end of the probe. 
     
     
         19 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises:
 at least one acoustic transducer switch having a narrow shape sound transmitter and at least one receiver, the at least one acoustic transducer switch using the receiver to detect a reflection of an output of the narrow shape sound transmitter, and using such detection to determine close proximity of the volume.   
     
     
         20 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises:
 a plurality of acoustic transducer switches having a narrow shape sound transmitter and at least one receiver, each of the plurality of acoustic transducer switches using its receiver to detect a reflection of an output of the narrow shape sound transmitter, and using such detection to determine close proximity of the volume.   
     
     
         21 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the plurality of acoustic transducer switches is located near a first side of the distal end of the probe and at least one other of the plurality of acoustic transducer switches is located near an opposite side of the distal end of the probe. 
     
     
         22 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises at least two detectors spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         23 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the probe has multiple portions, and the proximity detector is further adapted to provide information concerning the proximity of each of the multiple portions of the distal end of the probe with respect to a surface of a volume. 
     
     
         24 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 9 , wherein the proximity detector comprises:
 a modulated light source; and   at least one optical switch sensitive to the modulated light of the modulated light source;   wherein light from the modulated light source becomes incident upon the at least one optical switch by reflection from the surface of the volume.   
     
     
         25 . The optoacoustic system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one optical switch is adapted to reject light other than the modulated light.