THz Medical Imaging: in vivo Hydration Sensing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Terahertz (THz) Technology

Background:

• Terahertz (THz) imaging is gaining traction in medical research and funding.
• Understanding THz imaging phenomenology and system tradeoffs is crucial for its application.
• Existing imaging modalities have limitations in specific medical contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of THz medical imaging, including emerging applications and ongoing research.
• To introduce a specific THz medical imaging system and its operational principles.
• To demonstrate the utility of THz imaging in two distinct medical applications: skin burns and cornea.

Main Methods:

• An overview of THz imaging principles and system design is presented.
• A THz medical imaging system operating at ~525 GHz with ~125 GHz bandwidth was utilized.
• In vivo imaging of second-degree burns in rat models and ex vivo measurements of porcine cornea hydration were performed.

Main Results:

• THz imaging successfully visualized the formation and progression of edema in rat skin burn models over 8 hours.
• Experimental data demonstrated THz imaging's capability to measure porcine cornea hydration changes under drying conditions.
• The presented THz system and its applications highlight the potential for non-ionizing, high-resolution medical imaging.

Conclusions:

• THz imaging is a promising technology for medical diagnostics and monitoring.
• Specific applications in burn wound assessment and ophthalmology show significant potential.
• Further research and development of THz systems could lead to advanced clinical tools.