Flexible and directional fibre optic ultrasound transmitters using photostable dyes

All-optical ultrasound transducers are well-suited for use in imaging during minimally invasive surgical procedures. This requires highly miniaturised and flexible devices. Here we present optical transmitters applications based on modified fibre distal tips which allow larger transmitter element sizes, whilst maintaining small diameter proximal fibre. Three configurations were compared; a 400 µm core fibre, 200 with tip, capillary tip. All the used polydimethylsiloxane-dye composite material generation. The comprised photostable infra-red absorbing dye to provide absorption transduction. generated beam profile three was compared, demonstrating similar results, lateral widths <1.7 mm at depth of 10 mm. demonstrates promising alternative previously reported materials, generating pressures exceeding 2 MPa, corresponding bandwidths ca. 30 MHz. These can be readily incorporated into medical devices dimensions.