High-resolution ultrasonic imaging using an etalon detector array.

A photoacoustic imaging system was built and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of high-resolution low-noise ultrasonic imaging based on parallel detection using polymer etalons. Its capability of detecting ultrasound at different elements simultaneously in the optical end was verified by imaging three 49 mum beads. An average noise-equivalent pressure of 3.6 kPa over 50 MHz for 50 mum diameter detection elements in a two-dimensional array with a diameter of 1.35 mm and a detection bandwidth of 75 MHz at -3 dB was measured. These results demonstrate the potential of polymer etalons for high-frame-rate high-resolution three-dimensional photoacoustic and ultrasound pulse-echo imaging.