Optimizing light delivery in scanning photoacoustic imaging for prostate

The purpose of this study was to optimize the light delivery method in a prostate photoacoustic imaging system. A three dimensional (3D) optical model of the human prostate was developed, and the optical energy distribution in the prostate was estimated via three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation. Then, the feasibility of prostate photoacoustic imaging (PAI) using two endoscopic light delivery methods was studied. Photoacoustic pressure generation and the corresponding photoacoustic images had been obtained and the comparisons were made between each other. Also, the results of cylinder diffusing light source with different lengths were compared. After that, phantom experiment was carried out to validate the simulation results. Our results would be significant in the optimizing photoacoustic imaging system for an accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer.