Characterization of tissuelike media using the photoacoustic method

These studies are directed towards an on-line monitoring of tissue optical properties during medical laser diagnostics and therapy. The method of detection is based upon photoacoustic measurements. The detection of the laser induced acoustic transients was realized by means of piezoelectric transducers. Results concerning the optical properties of layered tissue- like samples are presented for two experimental configurations, i.e. transmission mode and reflection mode. The corresponding transients are calculated analytically and account for different influences which contribute to the signal, such as the laser parameters. Especially the effect of optoacoustic diffraction was investigated experimentally and verified theoretically. Its influence could be eliminated by applying fitting functions to the detected transients which take into account the distorting effect of diffraction.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.