Realtime photoacoustic microscopy of murine cardiovascular and respiratory dynamics in vivo

While photoacoustic imaging has emerged as a promising modality in recent years, a key drawback of practical and widespread use of the technique has been slow imaging rates. We present a 30-MHz array-based photoacoustic imaging system that can acquire and display photoacoustic images in realtime. Realtime display is very helpful and provides the system operator the ability to better navigate and position the probe for selecting a desired anatomical field of view. The system is capable of imaging at 50 frames per second to depths of a few mm in tissue. We used this system to successfully image the beating hearts of young athymic nude mice in vivo. Also of interest was the ability to visualize microvascular changes during respiration.