Electroacoustic Imaging Methods and Apparatus

Recently, an electroacoustic imaging apparatus and two electroacoustic imaging methods have been developed. The two methods are "forward" and "reverse" electroacoustic imaging which requires the application of a probing signal, and the detection and measurement of an induced signal to produce images. The electroacoustic apparatus offers the advantage of generating 2D and 3D images non-invasively. It can simultaneously image several contrast mechanisms, including the Hall effect, the thermoacoustic effect, and the electroacoustic effect. Although this device uses a Piezoelectric transducer, fiberoptic acoustic sensors can also be substituted to take advantage of advances in acoustic wave detection technology.