Thermoacoustic image reconstruction based on layered tissue model

Abstract

We derived analytical forward and inverse solution of thermoacoustic wave equation for inhomogeneous multi layered planar and cylindrical mediums with the source distribution existing in all layers. These solutions are applicable for imaging of organs such as breast and brain, whose structures are suitable for multi-layer modelling. For qualitative testing and comparison of the point-spread-functions associated with the homogeneous and layered solutions, we performed numerical simulations. Our simulation results show that the conventional inverse solution based on homogeneous medium assumption, as expected, produces incorrect locations of point sources and significantly increased side lobes, whereas our inverse solution involving the multi-layered medium produces point sources at the correct locations with lower side lobes.