Photoacoustic imaging of skin
Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is an emerging optical imaging modality with high spatial and temporal resolutions, deep penetration, and rich optical absorption contrast. Since the first demonstration of functional photoacoustic imaging in 2003, the last decade has seen an explosion in the development and use of PAT for biomedical studies, especially in the skin. Vascular, functional, metabolic, and molecular skin imaging at multiple spatial scales have been demonstrated on various animal models and on patients. In this chapter, we review the principles and imaging capability of various photoacoustic skin imaging systems and highlight representative studies published in the past decade. We also envision the technical developments that can further accelerate the translation of PAT technologies to clinical impacts.
