A common approach in Photoacoustic Imaging (PAI) is to use a linear or curved piezoelectric transducer array, which provides flexibility and versatility during image acquisition. However, these PAI systems often have limited Field-of-View (FOV), resolution, and contrast, resulting in low quality images. In this study, a multi-transducer approach is proposed to improve FOV, resolution, and contrast, with the goal of facilitating human carotid plaque imaging. A prototype consisting of multiple Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (CMUTs) on a flexible array with shared channels was developed and evaluated using simulated and ex-vivo human carotid plaque samples. In numerical simulations, the results are evaluated based on input ground truth parameters. For ex-vivo plaque samples, results for multi-transducer are evaluated and compared to the images acquired with single transducer. All the results demonstrate that the proposed approach improves contrast, FOV, and most notably, it allows resolving the structural information in the medium where more than 25% improvement in gCNR values is achieved in both simulations and experiments compared to the PA images obtained with single transducer.
KEYWORDS: Acoustics, Data modeling, In vitro testing, Speckle, Tissue optics, Tissues, Photoacoustic spectroscopy, Data acquisition, Point spread functions, Computer simulations
Significance: Physics-based simulations of photoacoustic (PA) signals are used to validate new methods, to characterize PA setups and to generate training datasets for machine learning. However, a thoroughly validated PA simulation toolchain that can simulate realistic images is still lacking.Aim: A quantitative toolchain was developed to model PA image acquisition in complex tissues, by simulating both the optical fluence and the acoustic wave propagation.Approach: Sampling techniques were developed to decrease artifacts in acoustic simulations. The performance of the simulations was analyzed by measuring the point spread function (PSF) and using a rotatable three-channel phantom, filled with cholesterol, a human carotid plaque sample, and porcine blood. Ex vivo human plaque samples were simulated to validate the methods in more complex tissues.Results: The sampling techniques could enhance the quality of the simulated PA images effectively. The resolution and intensity of the PSF in the turbid medium matched the experimental data well. Overall, the appearance, signal-to-noise ratio and speckle of the images could be simulated accurately.Conclusions: A PA toolchain was developed and validated, and the results indicate a great potential of PA simulations in more complex and heterogeneous media.
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) has a great potential to assess vulnerable plaques in the carotid artery. However, in vivo, PAI suffers from low angular coverage, limited field of view (FOV), and lateral resolution especially when imaging a few centimeters deep in the tissue. To improve these shortcomings, here, we propose to image with multiple capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers on a flexible substrate with orientation sensors to improve the image quality independent of the patient anatomy. We tested the multi-perspective PAI on a phantom and the experimental results demonstrate improvement in FOV, angular coverage, and resolution, strongly increasing the diagnostic capability of the PAI system.
The assessment of tissue composition using photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a promising approach. However, the signal-to-noise ratio in PAI systems are quite low in comparison to ultrasound imaging’s especially at few centimeters depth. Multi-perspective photoacoustic imaging (MP-PAI) using multiple capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs) on a flexible substrate provide a cost-efficient way to improve field of view (FOV), resolution, and angular coverage. In this work, an encoding scheme based on Hadamard codes is proposed to improve the SNR in MP-PAI. The concept is validated in an experiment using a carotid plaque tissue sample demonstrating the increase in SNR imaging with three CMUTs.
KEYWORDS: In vivo imaging, Signal detection, Image quality, Blood, Image filtering, Tissues, Digital filtering, Photoacoustic imaging, Data acquisition, Blood circulation
Significance: Intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) is an important indicator of plaque vulnerability. Early detection could aid the prevention of stroke.
Aim: We aim to detect IPH with single wavelength PA imaging in vivo and to improve image quality.
Approach: We developed a singular value decomposition (SVD)-based filter to detect the nonstationary and stationary components in ultrasound data. A PA mask was created to detect stationary (IPH) sources. The method was tested ex vivo using phantoms and in vivo in patients.
Results: The flow and IPH channels were successfully separated in the phantom data. We can also detect the PA signals from IPH and reject signals from the carotid lumen in vivo. Generalized contrast-to-noise ratio improved in both ex vivo and in vivo in US imaging.
Conclusions: SVD-based filtering can successfully detect IPH using a single laser wavelength, opening up opportunities for more economical and cost-effective laser sources.
Assessment of morphology and composition of plaques is paramount to characterize their vulnerability. Spectroscopic photoacoustic imaging (sPAI) can image different components, but unmixing accuracy is subject to a proper wavelength selection. In this study, we analyzed the spectral response of plaque tissue in a broad spectral range and proposed a new wavelength selection method based on endmember determination. The method was validated in human plaque samples and phantoms. Results show that our method improves spectral unmixing, and it is possible to characterize plaque composition using at least as many wavelengths as constituents of interest.
Peripheral Artery Diseases (PAD) are caused by the occlusions of arteries in the peripheral locations of the circulatory system. The severity of PAD is usually assessed using the Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) and the Ultrasound Doppler. Non-contact Photoplethysmography (PPG) imaging is a recent emerging technology capable of monitoring skin perfusion. Using an off-the-shelf camera and a light source, is possible to remotely detect the dynamic changes in blood volume in the skin and derive a map correlated to the blood perfusion. The aim of this study is the evaluation of a PPG imaging system (iPPG) for the assessment of Peripheral Arterial Diseases. Reduced blood flow is simulated on 21 volunteers by increasing the pressure in a pressure cuff. For each volunteer, measurements with iPPG, ultrasound, Laser Speckle Contrast Analysis (LASCA) and ABI were acquired. Our experiments show that iPPG can detect reduced perfusion levels, and correlates well with the other measurement systems.
Rupture of carotid plaques triggers stroke. Current diagnosis of stroke is based on lumen stenosis, resulting in sever overtreatment. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging can provide comprehensive and patient-specific assessment of plaque vulnerability, and prevent overtreatment. However, no in vivo PA imaging of carotid plaque is available due to low SNR. Here, we present a fast PA/US imaging system and motion corrected averaging algorithm to increase PA SNR. The imaging system and algorithm are verified ex vivo, and in vivo on patients during carotid endarterectomy (intra-operatively). The results may accelerate the clinical translation of PA imaging of carotid plaques.
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) may have the ability to reveal the composition and the anatomical structure of carotid plaques, which determines its mechanical properties and vulnerability. We used PAI and plane wave ultrasound (PUS) imaging to obtain three-dimensional (3-D) images of endarterectomy samples ex vivo and compared the results with histology to investigate the potential of PAI-based identification of intraplaque hemorrhage. Seven carotid plaque samples were obtained from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and imaged with a fully integrated hand-held photoacoustic (PA) probe, consisting of a pulsed diode laser (tpulse=130 ns, Epulse=1 mJ, λ=808 nm) and a linear array transducer (fc=7.5 MHz). The samples were rotated 360 deg with 10 deg steps, and data were spatially compounded to obtain complete 3-D images of the plaques. Areas of high absorption in the 3-D datasets were identified and compared to histological data of the plaques. Data in six out of seven endarterectomy samples revealed the presence of intraplaque hemorrhages that were not visible in the PUS images. Due to the noninvasive nature of PAI, this ex vivo study may elucidate preclinical studies toward the in vivo, noninvasive, vulnerability assessment of the atherosclerotic carotid plaque.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.