Optical Interferometry is the technology that could enable ultrasonic methods to be used internally on patients to capture information about their heart and the heart tissue. Prior to this technology, ultrasounds would be used externally to examine a patient’s heart. The reason for this is that piezo electronic components that were necessary for the technology hadn’t been miniaturized enough to allow for insertion into a patient’s blood vessels.
Researchers began working on an optoacoustical sensor for use in medical ultrasound technology that could enable physicians to perform intravascular examinations. Based on optical interferometry, the technology allows for an intravascular module to be equipped with the imaging sensor and this provides the medical team with an internal image of the coronary blood vessels at a depth of up to 1 millimeter.
A guided laser impulse emitted from an illuminating fiber is absorbed by the blood vessel tissue and the resulting ultrasonics are guided to a fiber-based ultrasonic detector by utilizing an acoustical lens. The transformation of the signal into an optical signal allows for a complete image of the vascular walls. The optical interferometer notices deviations in the reflective patterns and highlights abnormal or disease-based changes in the tissue.
In addition to the intravascular sensor module and the lens, an ultrasonic detector element and lighting fibers are used for the ultrasonic stimulus. The researchers designed the tool that converts signals into an image that can be used for diagnostics. The technology will allow physicians a more detailed image of the vessel than were previously available with the external imaging methods and this will improve the diagnostics and outcomes for patients.
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