A multi-bandwidth photoacoustic tomography imaging system suitable for small animals

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is a cutting-edge biomedical imaging technique, providing critical advantages, including deep tissue penetration at the centimeter scale, alongside rapid and comprehensive imaging capabilities. Although the spectral range of photoacoustic signals generated by laser excitation in biological tissues is inherently broad, it is nonetheless limited by the bandwidth of a single transducer. As a result, only a specific frequency range of photoacoustic data can be captured. This study proposes a novel multi-bandwidth PAT system, utilizing two semi-ring arrays with distinct central frequencies. The system is designed to capture a broader spectrum of photoacoustic signals, thereby yielding more comprehensive data.