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A High-performance Compact Photoacoustic Tomography System for In Vivo Small-animal Brain Imaging
Published on: June 21, 2017
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Deep tissue photoacoustic computed tomography with a fast and compact laser system
Depeng Wang1, Yuehang Wang1, Weiran Wang2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, USA.
Biomedical Optics Express
|January 20, 2017
Summary
Compact lasers enable high-performance photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) for preclinical and clinical applications. This advancement overcomes the bulkiness of traditional systems, paving the way for broader biomedical imaging use.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Laser Technology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) is a promising biomedical imaging technique.
- Current PACT systems are limited by bulky, heavy, water-cooled laser sources with low repetition rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the suitability of compact, diode-pumped lasers for preclinical and clinical PACT.
- To overcome the limitations of conventional laser systems in PACT.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a miniature, diode-pumped laser (1.6 kg, 13 × 14 × 7 cm³) outputting 80 mJ/pulse at 1064 nm.
- Evaluated the laser system's performance in vitro (chicken breast tissue) and in vivo (mice and human subjects).
Main Results:
- Achieved over 4 cm PACT depth in chicken breast tissue.
- Enabled high-resolution, non-invasive brain imaging in mice at 50 Hz.
- Performed high-speed cross-sectional imaging of murine cardiac and respiratory function.
- Provided high-quality, 3D vascular mapping in human subjects at multi-centimeter depths.
Conclusions:
- Compact diode-pumped lasers are well-suited for both preclinical and clinical PACT.
- The developed system demonstrates the clinical viability of PACT with compact laser technology.
- This innovation facilitates broader implementation of PACT for advanced biomedical imaging.
