Initial results of finger imaging using photoacoustic computed tomography

Abstract

We present a photoacoustic computed tomography investigation on a healthy human finger, to image blood vessels with a focus on vascularity across the interphalangeal joints. The cross-sectional images were acquired using an imager specifically developed for this purpose. The images show rich detail of the digital blood vessels with diameters between 100 µm and 1.5 mm in various orientations and at various depths. Different vascular layers in the skin including the subpapillary plexus could also be visualized.Acoustic reflections on the finger bone of photoacoustic signals from skin were visible in sequential slice images along the finger except at the location of the joint gaps. Not unexpectedly, the healthy synovial membrane at the joint gaps was not detected due to its small size and normal vascularization. Future research will concentrate on studying digits afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis to detect the inflamed synovium with its heightened vascularization, whose characteristics are potential markers for disease activity.

Advanced optoacoustic methods for multiscale imaging of in vivo dynamics

“…The same tomographic scanning geometry has also been used e.g. for imaging small animals of different sizes [59–61] or human fingers [62]. Other tomographic imaging approaches based on cylindrical [63] or spherical [64] trajectories have further been suggested.…”

Breakthroughs in modern cancer therapy and elusive cardiotoxicity: Critical research‐practice gaps, challenges, and insights

“…273,283 Various exogenous probes with high contrast have also been extensively developed, including inorganic and organic dyes, 274 magneto-optical and photochromic probes, 283 nanoparticles, 282,287 and genetically encoded probes, 281 to achieve improved resolution and sensitivity while providing multi-parametric photoacoustic imaging. 283 This imaging modality has proven its clinical and preclinical value in functional, structural, and molecular aspects of diseases and has been used for physiologically and pathologically imaging various organs and tissues, including breast cancer, [288][289][290][291][292] neural tissues, 277,287,[293][294][295] fingers, 296 sentinel lymph nodes, 277,292,297 the cardiovascular system, [298][299][300][301][302] the prostate, 303,304 skin, 305 cancer therapy, 273,274,306 muscle oxygenation, 307 metabolic status, 274,283 eyes, 308,309 plaque pathophysiology, 310 tumor microenvironment (pH, enzymes, radical oxidation species (ROS), and metal ions, among others), 274 and biomaterial-tissue interactions to assess the functions of the engineered tissue/organ constructs. <...>…”

Integrated photoacoustic and diffuse optical tomography system for imaging of human finger jointsin vivo

“…With the advanced development of laser technologies, various optical imaging modalities such as photoacoustic imaging (PAI), diffuse optical tomography (DOT), fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT), optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been developed and widely used to diagnose joint diseases [5][6][7][8][9][10]. Among all of these imaging techniques, PAI, which utilizes the absorption of ultrashort light pulses by the tissue to induce wideband acoustic waves, owns greater depth penetration and spatial resolution [11,12].…”