Optoacoustic spectroscopy can overcome the drawbacks of all-optical techniques for biomedical spectroscopy, as the acoustic waves generated from the optical absorption and thermoelastic expansion of the targeted medium are attenuated very little. The spectral information can be resolved using a high energy, short-pulsed tunable laser, operating over a spectral range from 410 nm to 1000 nm. The amplitude of the induced pressure waves is directly proportional to the absorbed optical energy at each wavelength. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)