Probe design for Photoacoustic imaging of prostate

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in males and the second leading cause of death due to cancer in the United States. Ultrasound combined with Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy (TRUS) is the only diagnostic modality in use; however it has low sensitivity and specificity. Need for an improved imaging modality is deeply felt by the community. We propose a novel method and a device for imaging of the prostate, C-scan Photoacoustic (PA) imaging of the prostate. The basic principle, our imaging system design, fabrication and preliminary results are described in this paper.