Researchers at Purdue have published some research on using pulsed near-infrared lasers to create 3D scans of arterial structures, allowing detailed scans without requiring cuts.
The laser generates molecular “overtone” vibrations, or wavelengths that are not absorbed by the blood. The pulsed laser causes tissue to heat and expand locally, generating pressure waves at the ultrasound frequency that can be picked up with a device called a transducer.
