Imprinted Polymer Microrings as High-Performance Ultrasound Detectors in Photoacoustic Imaging

Development of both fundamental research and clinical applications of photoacoustic imaging call for ultrasound detectors of high sensitivity, flat frequency response, and compact size, which are not easily satisfied by traditional ultrasound detectors. Therefore, many alternative ultrasound detectors have been investigated in recent years and a representative one is the imprinted polymer microring resonator-based detector. This review covers its principle, device fabrication, characterization and application, with an emphasis on how the microring's unique properties make it act as a high-performance ultrasound detector in photoacoustic imaging systems. The imprinted polymer microring has high detection sensitivity, broadband frequency response, compact size, and good operation robustness. Application of microrings in photoacoustic tomography generates truthful reconstructed images; use of microring in photoacoustic microscopy leads to improved image resolution; and the detector's compact size makes it promising for photoacoustic endoscopic applications. When integrated with other electromagnetic wave absorbers, novel applications such as real-time terahertz pulse detection can be realized.