Development of a thermoacoustic imaging system to image blood in the brain: preliminary ex-vivo results

Thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) is a promising new technology for biomedical diagnostics. It combines the high contrast of electromagnetic absorption with the high resolution of ultrasound imaging. Traditional TAI systems use circular scanning modes with single or arc detectors, which can be slow and inefficient for body scanning. A linear-array detector, which is commonly used in medical ultrasound imaging systems, can be used to scan biological tissues more efficiently. In this study, we developed a novel linear-array TAI system (LATIS) for the detection of hemorrhage in the brain through fontanelle in neonates. The LATIS uses a linear-array transducer with multiple elements, which enables rapid data acquisition and real-time imaging. A custom-designed trigger mechanism synchronizes the microwave signal generation and data acquisition process, ensuring accurate timing for optimal image quality. We evaluated the LATIS performance by conducting several ex-vivo sheep brain hemorrhage of different amounts of artificially induced blood. The system was able to successfully detect lower grades of intraventricular hemorrhages in ex-vivo experiments. These results demonstrate the potential of LATIS for clinical imaging of brain hemorrhage in neonates as they are vulnerable to intraventricular hemorrhage.