Combined ultrasound and optical tomography imaging

We introduce a novel imaging technique that combines the complementary features of ultrasound and near infrared diffusive light imaging. It may have potential for improved breast cancer detection and specificity. The combined technology is achieved experimentally by mounting an ultrasound array together with multiple laser diode sources and multiple optical detectors on a hand held scan probe. We demonstrate the technique in tissue phantoms wherein both acoustic and optical sensors image the volume underneath the probe. Co-registration of acoustic and optical images is achieved with an accuracy of 0.42 cm (std 0.28cm) which is the image pixel size of our prototype.