Photoacoustic blood vessel detection during surgical laser interventions

This paper presents a discussion about the potential of photoacoustics with regard to its application in surgical assistance during minimally invasive, laser assisted interventions. Aim of the work is the detection of obscured large blood vessels in order to prevent unintentional dissection. Based on spectroscopic investigations of the target tissue (liver), a wavelength for the photoacoustic excitation laser was chosen with respect to a high absorption contrast between the vessel and the surrounding liver tissue. An experimental setup featuring a simple liver model is created. Preliminary results show, that vessels with a diameter of 2 mm can be detected up to a distance of 1 mm from the treatment fibre. It is shown, that detection of acoustic waves induced inside liver is feasible over distances higher than 10 cm.