Fig. 3.

Performance of the overdriven CW laser diode system for optoacoustic imaging. (a) Top view of the Suture Phantom. Suture diameters are indicated as follows: 2, 20 μm; 3, 30 μm; 5, 50 μm. (b) Profile of the lateral line shown in panel a. (c) Profile of the axial point shown in panel a. (d-e) Amplitude images of a mouse ear showing vasculature, including smaller vessels. (f-g) Coronal maximum-intensity projections of human forearm imaged at depths ranging from 0 to 280 μm (epidermis) and from 280 to 550 μm (dermis). The two skin layers show different patterns, with microvasculature evident in the dermis. (h) Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) as a function of penetration depth when imaging the human forearm. A best-fit line calculated by linear regression (Lin. Reg.) is shown for reference. Scale bars, 1 mm.