Realtime parallel back-projection algorithm for three-dimensional optoacoustic imaging devices

Back-projection algorithms are probably the fastest approach to reconstruct an image from a set of optoacoustic (photoacoustic) data set. However, standard implementations of back-projection formulae are still not adequate for real-time (greater than 5 frames per second) visualization of three-dimensional structures. This is due to the fact that the number of voxels one needs to reconstruct in three-dimensions is orders of magnitude larger than the number of pixels in two dimensions. Herein we describe a parallel implementation of optoacoustic signal processing and back-projection reconstruction in an attempt to achieve real-time visualization of structures with three-dimensional optoacoustic tomographic systems. For this purpose, the parallel computation power of a graphics processing unit (GPU) is utilized. The GPU is programmed with OpenCL, a programming language for heterogenous platforms. We showcase that with the implementation suggested in this work imaging at frame rates up to 50 high-resolution three-dimensional images per second is achievable.