Contrast enhanced high-resolution diffuse optical tomography of the human brain using ICG

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) offers improved spatial resolution for functional brain imaging.
• Clinical applications of DOT, particularly for perfusion imaging, require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the utility of high-resolution diffuse optical tomography (HR-DOT) for clinical brain perfusion imaging.
• To present the initial results of HR-DOT using indocyanine green (ICG) as an optical contrast agent.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a continuous wave near-infrared spectroscopy setup with a dense grid of optical fibers.
• Administered indocyanine green (ICG) as an exogenic contrast agent for perfusion tracking.
• Applied HR-DOT to differentiate between intracerebral and extracerebral tissue perfusion.

Main Results:

• Observed an early arrival of the ICG bolus within the intracerebral tissue.
• Detected a delayed arrival of the ICG bolus in the extracerebral tissue.
• Successfully achieved separation of intracerebral and extracerebral layers based on ICG transit times.

Conclusions:

• HR-DOT is advantageous for clinical brain perfusion imaging.
• The method shows potential for monitoring brain perfusion in neurointensive care patients.
• Successful differentiation of tissue layers using ICG highlights HR-DOT's clinical applicability.