Teachability of multispectral optoacoustic tomography

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Optoacoustic Imaging

Background:

• Reproducible operation of multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) requires adequate training, which is currently under-discussed.
• Assessing the teachability of MSOT is essential for standardizing its clinical application and research.
• Operator experience significantly impacts the accuracy and reproducibility of MSOT scans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of different training methods for multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT).
• To determine if inexperienced operators can achieve reproducible MSOT imaging results comparable to experienced operators.
• To assess the impact of ultrasound guidance on MSOT imaging accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Five operators (two experienced, three inexperienced) performed repositioning imaging experiments on calf muscles of five volunteers over two rounds.
• Inexperienced operators received training via personal supervision, video meeting, or printed introduction.
• Image quality was quantitatively assessed using full-reference image quality measures, comparing scans with and without ultrasound guidance.

Main Results:

• Inexperienced operators with personal supervision and hybrid ultrasound guidance achieved repositioning accuracy comparable to experienced operators.
• The use of ultrasound guidance during MSOT measurements significantly improved repositioning accuracy for inexperienced operators.
• Different training methods (video, print) showed varying degrees of success in improving operator performance.

Conclusions:

• Personal supervision combined with hybrid ultrasound real-time imaging enables inexperienced operators to perform MSOT with high repositioning accuracy.
• Effective training protocols are key to ensuring reproducible MSOT measurements, regardless of operator experience.
• MSOT teachability can be significantly enhanced through targeted training and the integration of complementary imaging modalities like ultrasound.