PHOTOACOUSTIC SENSORS WITH DIFFUSING ELEMENTS FOR PATIENT MONITORING

Various methods and systems for photoacoustic patient monitoring are provided. A photoacoustic system includes a sensor having a body and one or more light emitting components disposed in the body that emit one or more wavelengths of light. A light guide receives the one or more wavelengths of light and guides the one or more wavelengths of light into an interrogation region of a patient. A wide angle diffusing element is disposed on a tip of the light guide and has a diffusing angle of greater than or equal to 80 degrees. The wide angle diffusing element diffuses the one or more wavelengths of light when the sensor is opposed by air. One or more acoustic detectors are disposed in the body and detect acoustic energy generated by the interrogation region of the patient in response to the emitted light when the sensor is opposed by the patient.