Investigation of Photoacoustic imaging for monitoring of Wound Healing under a Layer of Blood with Different Coagulation

We have investigated Photoacoustic (PA) imaging for monitoring of wound healing under a blood layer with different degree of coagulation. We embedded simulated blood vessel structure in tissue phantoms made with gelatin. A thin layer of blood with different degree of coagulation was also embedded on top of the vessel structure. Using 532 nm pulse laser, we obtained PA images of the phantoms and analyzed the image quality depending on the degree of blood coagulation. Due to the high optical absorption of blood layer, PA image of simulated blood vessel under blood layer was limited but according to optical scattering, possibility of PA imaging to monitor wound healing was confirmed.