Work

Democratization of Real-time Multi-Spectral Photoacoustic Imaging: Open-Sourced System Architecture for OPOTEK Phocus & Verasonics Vantage Combination

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Real-time multi-spectral photoacoustic imaging (RT-mPAI) often suffers from synchronization instabilities when interfacing fast-tuning lasers with data acquisition platforms executing on non-real-time operating systems. To overcome this, we establish an open-source hardware-software architecture tailored for the widely adopted combination of the OPOTEK Phocus lasers and Verasonics Vantage systems. By employing an independent micro-controller for deterministic laser trigger counting alongside a decoupled client-server data streaming framework, the proposed system circumvents OS-induced timing deviations and local storage bottlenecks. By open-sourcing this pipeline and cultivating a collaborative environment to share both code and ideas, we aim to lower the technical and cost barriers for RT-mPAI, thereby democratizing access to stable RT-mPAI research and, more ambitiously, fostering a vibrant open-source community.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2604.15255

Authors: Murakami, Ryo, Tang, Yichuan, Zhang, Haichong K.

Language: English

Topic: Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute

Awards: Multiparametric Photoacoustic Imaging-Based Identification of Aggressive Prostate Cancer, Enhanced imaging and treatment of aggressive subtypes of prostate cancer

OpenAlex ID: W7154712965

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