Overview of Photo Acoustic Tomography Imaging System
Cancer is a major problem in the world today, accounting for a large percentage of all deaths. An enormous amount of research is being conducted to find better ways of detecting and treating it. The earlier it is detected, the easier it is to treat. It is for this reason that we are working on a system that will be able to detect the presence of a tumor so that treatment can begin as soon as possible.
Several methods already exist for detecting tumors, but there are certain disadvantages inherent to each one. For example, X-rays have been used for this purpose, but this approach exposes the body to harmful radiation. Another option is ultrasound imaging, which is safer than using X-rays, but images produced using this technique are often hard to see due to poor contrast. A third approach, optical imaging, adequately addresses the contrast problem, but cannot penetrate tissue deeply enough due to the extent to which living tissue scatters light. The medical community would benefit greatly from a hybrid system that could incorporate the advantages of several of the existing imaging methods while eliminating the disadvantages