Self-Gated Respiratory Motion Rejection for Optoacoustic Tomography

Abstract

Respiratory motion in living organisms is known to result in image blurring and loss of resolution, chiefly due to the lengthy acquisition times of the corresponding image acquisition methods. Optoacoustic tomography can effectively eliminate in vivo motion artifacts due to its inherent capacity for collecting image data from the entire imaged region following a single nanoseconds-duration laser pulse. However, multi-frame image analysis is often essential in applications relying on spectroscopic data acquisition or for scanning-based systems. Thereby, efficient methods to correct for image distortions due to motion are imperative. Herein, we demonstrate that efficient motion rejection in optoacoustic tomography can readily be accomplished by frame clustering during image acquisition, thus averting excessive data acquisition and post-processing. The algorithm’s efficiency for two- and three-dimensional imaging was validated with experimental whole-body mouse data acquired by spiral volumetric optoacoustic tomography (SVOT) and full-ring cross-sectional imaging scanners.

Real-time interleaved spectroscopic photoacoustic and ultrasound (PAUS) scanning with simultaneous fluence compensation and motion correction

“…To avoid blurred images and inaccurate spectroscopic data, scan rates should be increased and/or frames aligned with motion correction. Previous efforts include respiratory or data-driven gating 52 , 53 , model-based estimation 54 , and tissue boundary tracking (e.g., skin surface) 55 . Gating-based methods typically reject images during large motion, slowing the effective frame rate and limiting accuracy for fast processes.…”

Tomographic Ultrasound and LED-Based Photoacoustic System for Preclinical Imaging

“…The current scanning time is 42.5 s, which is longer when compared with the state-of-the-art system using a full ring transducer [ 3 ]. However, it is possible to synchronize the breathing cycle of the animal with the acquisition and by using postprocessing to reduce image distortion due to motion while acquisition [ 16 ].…”

Real-time spectroscopic photoacoustic/ultrasound (PAUS) scanning with simultaneous fluence compensation and motion correction for quantitative molecular imaging

“…In addition, motion compensation may be very important for fast processes, as often encountered in interventional procedures. Although motion artifacts can sometimes be rejected in small animal models [46], they must be considered in clinical imaging.…”

“…To avoid blurred images and inaccurate spectroscopic data, scan rates should be increased and/or frames aligned with motion correction. Previous efforts include respiratory or data-driven gating [46,47], model-based estimation [48], and tissue boundary tracking (e.g., skin surface) [49]. Gating-based methods typically reject images during large motion, slowing the effective frame rate and limiting accuracy for fast processes.…”