Gepulste Laserdioden zur photoakustischen Bildgebung am menschlichen Gehirn

Photoacoustic imaging of the human brain has great potential to contribute to rapid diagnosis of strokes and other brain injuries, thus contributing to more effective treatment. Photoacoustics is based on the optical excitation of an ultrasound wave in an optical absorber such as blood. Sudden absorption of nanosecond-long laser pulses generates sound waves in blood vessels - these ultrasound waves are measured and reconstructed on the surface of the tissue by ultrasound sensors, enabling three-dimensional imaging of perfusion. This project focuses on high power laser diode arrays as photoacoustic excitation sources and investigates how these pulsed laser diodes can be used to overcome the technical challenges in transcranial photoacoustic imaging.