Biomedical Optoacoustic Imaging

We develop non-invasive molecular imaging systems to answer biomedical questions.

Light + Sound

Optoacoustic/ Photoacoustic imaging relies on optical stimulation with acoustic detection of the resulting emitted ultrasound waves. Based on optical absorption, this technique combines molecular specificity of optical approaches with the deep penetration capability of ultrasonography. The non-ionizing and non-invasive technique is particularly suited for biological and medical studies. The potential of this method spans from basic research to playing key roles in routine clinical patient care.

Optoacoustic Tomography

By combining a multi-element spherical probe with a fast-tuning laser, Optoacoustic Tomography is able to offer real-time volumetric imaging (4D) of deep biological tissue.

Spherical Acoustic Probe

A spherical probe is made up of many (~256) acoustic transducers distributed across a spherical surface. The detector design facilitates the reconstruction of volumetric (3D) images for each laser shot instance.

Fast-tuning Laser

Taking advantage of fast tuning OPO with high precision technology, it's possible to achieve pulse to pulse wavelength-tuning across the NIR range. The high repetition rate (100 Hz) allows for the capture of fast dynamics.

Application 1: In vivo study of acute myocardial infarction

Volume Reconstruction (MIP)

The field-of-view, sensitivity, penetration depth, spatial and temporal resolution achieved by Optoacoustic Tomography makes it a perfect tool for in vivo beat-by-beat cardiovascular tracking in mice. Endogenous contrast enables contrast-free imaging of the heart (t o ). The anesthetized animals were injected with the contrast agent ICG, revealing an increase in signal at RV (Right Ventricle) and LV (Left Ventricle) at various time points (t 1 and t 2 respectively).

Signal Analysis

PTT (Pulmonary transit time) can be extracted by the dynamic dataset by calculating the differences of the image signals' time-to-peaks between RV and LV.

Statistics

Significance difference in PTT found between healthy and infarcted mice, showing this method to be capable of non-invasively assess cardiac health.

Application 2: Isolated beating heart

Langendorff

The heart can be isolated, and via retrograde perfusion, be kept beating continuously for up to several hours.

Excised and beating

Optoacoustic Tomography can be combined with the Langendorff method, where retrograde perfusion allows us to extract the heart and maintain beating mechanisms to preserve its physiology. This method allows us direct access to the beating heart, enabling full visualization of the entire organ in action.

Whole heart visualization

Cross-sectional image planes reveals internal anatomy, including the septum, chambers and ventricles, as well as papillary muscles and trabeculae carneae.

The future applications of such approaches includes 3D voltage mapping of the entire heart volume for the study of cardiac and epicardial electrophysiology.

True Real-time

As this approach does not rely of gating, but a beat-by-beat method, this would be a suitable technique for applications with irregular motion, such as arrhythmia.

Valve action

The Spatial-temporal resolution is sufficient for visualizing heart vavles. (Shown here: pulmonary and mitral valves).

Other Applications

Clinical diagnosis of Colon Inflammation

iThera Medical GmbH

Clinical Tendon imaging

Hybrid Systems: Optoacoustics and light-sheet Microscopy

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse