ABSTRACT
This chapter presents details of the design and characterization of an improved photoacoustic system optimized for tomographic small animal imaging. The system uses a 128-element transducer array and features a higher operating frequency for resolution of fine features, such as brain vasculature, while retaining high sensitivity for deeper imaging. The chapter provides a discussion of the system architecture and design with special consideration of electronics and transducer parameters. It also presents simulations and characterization measurements of system performance, including resolution, field-of-view, and sensitivity. The chapter describes the effects of target geometry, orientation, and size on tomographic imaging quality. It demonstrates the impact of both system design and target characteristics through ex vivo imaging of mouse brain vasculature. The chapter explains a brief discussion of system design implications for photoacoustic imaging fidelity with the complex and varied features typical of in vivo tissues.
