光声成像技术是近年来兴起的前列腺早期检测与成像的新技术。前列腺组织的结构特征需要一种无创的且光穿透深度足够大的光声激发方式。本文设计了一种可用于经由尿道对前列腺光辐照的侧向光源, 并结合直肠处长焦区聚焦式超声换能器的光声探测展开了前列腺仿体的光声扫描成像。结果表明, 侧向光源有利于单侧吸收体的定位和成像, 具有较好的成像范围和深度, 结合侧向光源的旋转可实现全方位成像。因此该侧向光源有望成为早期前列腺肿瘤光声成像技术中一种新型的光源结构, 具有重要意义。

Photoacoustic imaging has recently emerged as a promising imaging modality for prostate cancer, in which a light delivery method to prostate with sufficient penetrating depth and minimal invasiveness is required in the photoacoustic imaging technique for examining prostate. In this letter, we developed a prostate photoacoustic imaging system by using transurethral light delivery approach utilizing a mirror-based side-firing fiber(MB-SFF),and a trans-rectal focused transducer for scanning the photoacoustic signals. Results of phantom experiments demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method. The side-firing fiber would be more advantageous if a priori knowledge of cancer locations require additional confirmation. And through rotating the fiber, a full visualization of all targets within the field surrounding the urethra can be obtained. The approach can play a significant role for the optimization of transurethral light delivery to prostate.