Photoacoustic computed tomography for functional human brain imaging [Invited].

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Magnetic resonance imaging and optical imaging have advanced human brain function studies.
• There is a need for complementary imaging modalities with molecular specificity, high resolution, and deep penetration.
• Photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) emerges as a promising solution due to its unique properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) for functional human brain imaging.
• To discuss the hardware, reconstruction algorithms, and in vivo demonstrations of PACT.
• To outline the future roadmap for PACT in brain imaging.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and technological advancements in PACT.
• Analysis of PACT hardware components and their impact on imaging performance.
• Evaluation of various reconstruction algorithms for PACT image generation.
• Assessment of in vivo studies demonstrating PACT's capability in brain imaging.

Main Results:

• PACT provides rich optical contrast and acoustic resolution.
• It achieves imaging depths significantly beyond the optical transport mean free path in biological tissues.
• PACT has demonstrated potential for functional human brain imaging.

Conclusions:

• PACT is a valuable complementary modality for brain imaging.
• Further development in hardware and algorithms will enhance its clinical utility.
• PACT holds significant promise for future neuroimaging applications.