Fusion of conventional ultrasound imaging and acousto-optic sensing by use of a standard pulsed-ultrasound scanner

Acousto-optic sensing (AOS) is a dual-wave sensing technique based on the ultrasound modulation of diffuse light in a turbid medium. We experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of combining AOS and conventional ultrasound imaging by use of a commercially available pulsed-ultrasound scanner coupled with a photorefractive crystal-based optical interferometry system. Optically absorbing targets embedded in highly diffusive phantoms (𝜇𝑠′=10 cm−1) are imaged through a thickness of 27 mm with millimeter resolution. The acousto-optic images are intrinsically coregistered with the ultrasound images.