Chinese Optics Letters, Volume. 23, Issue 12, (2025)

Visualization of acoustic intensity field of HIFU through photoacoustic tomography [Early Posting]

Yan Sicheng, Chen Zhiheng, Lu Chuanyu, Chen Hao, Pan Fanyun, Lu Qiangbing, Yan Xuejun, Lu Minghui, Chen Yanfeng
Author Affiliations
  • Nanjing University College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
  • China
  • Nanjing University
  • show less

    We proposed a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) visualization approach based on photoacoustic tomography (PAT), exploiting the linear relationship between the Grüneisen parameter and temperature to map the HIFU induced temperature field. A differential photoacoustic (DPA) method was employed to effectively suppress background noise caused by changes in the optical absorption coefficient due to structural tissue damage, thereby successfully decoupling the temperature-dependent photoacoustic (PA) signal enhancement. Furthermore, a quantitative model was established to describe the relationship between the temperature rise (ΔT) and the PA signal variation (ΔPA), enabling reconstruction of the temperature distribution within the HIFU focal region. Under short duration irradiation conditions, where thermal diffusion can be neglected, axial scanning was used to reconstruct the three-dimensional acoustic field distribution of HIFU. The proposed visualization strategy effectively resolves the challenge of characterizing high-energy focal zones, significantly enhancing the ability to assess HIFU acoustic fields and providing a reliable foundation for pre-treatment dose planning and intraoperative precision therapy.

    Paper Information

    Manuscript Accepted: Jun. 6, 2025

    Posted: Aug. 4, 2025

    DOI: 10.3788/COL202523.121204