Photoacoustic imaging benefits from integrated laser-OPO system

May 16, 2012

Santa Clara, CA--AlphaScan is a compact integrated optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and pump laser that outputs high energies in the near-infrared (NIR) for photoacoustic imaging.

Gail Overton

AlphaScan is a compact integrated optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and pump laser that outputs high energies in the near-infrared (NIR) for photoacoustic imaging.

Santa Clara, CA--AlphaScan, a compact integrated optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and pump laser that outputs high energies in the near-infrared (NIR) for photoacoustic imaging, has been introduced by Spectra-Physics, a Newport Corporation brand. It has a rapid-scan option for switching wavelengths in alternating laser pulses for differential measurements, enabling enhanced imaging and signal quality. The system is software controlled and fully automated for simple operation in biological imaging and spectroscopy applications.

The alphaScan system delivers > 50 mJ of pulse energy in the near infrared, useful for biological applications utilizing the hemoglobin absorption region and for photoacoustic applications. The rapid-scan option allows the system to tune up to 100 nm between alternating pulses for the simultaneous detection of two distinct markers, or differential absorption measurement of two wavelengths. The system includes a Spectra-Physics Quanta-Ray laser and green-pumped Scan Series OPO.

"With its high energies and flexible tunability, alphaScan is a powerful, yet easy-to-use, compact device," said Herman Chui, senior director of product marketing for Spectra-Physics. "This system is ideal for the promising photoacoustic technique for imaging the structure of live tissues for cancer research."

Photoacoustic imaging, also known as photoacoustic tomography, is an emerging technique for imaging live tissue at depths up to 10 cm for detecting tumors and cancer research. Using this method, the laser light locally excites acoustic waves in the live tissue for high resolution, spectroscopic imaging at very large depths.

SOURCE: Spectra-Physics, a Newport Corporation brand; www.newport.com/Spectra-Physics-Launches-Integrated-Laser-OPO-for/1012369/1033/annoucement.aspx

About the Author

Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)

Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.