基于光声成像的生物组织微结构定征研究进展*

光声成像是一种新兴的复合型生物医学成像技术,它既具有光学成像丰富的光学对比度,又具有声学成像成像深度深、深层组织空间分辨率高的优点。作为一种非侵入式的成像技术,光声成像逐渐显现出极大的生物医学应用潜力。该文首先介绍了光声成像的物理机制,以及光声显微镜和光声计算机断层成像这两种典型的光声成像技术;然后讨论了从光声射频信号中提取组织微结构的尺度、数量密度、弹性等特征参数的研究进展,并展望了其在组织定征和分类上的应用前景。     

多参量光声成像及其在生物医学领域的应用

光声成像兼具声学成像和光学成像两者的优点, 因而成为近十年来发展最迅速的生物医学成像技术之一. 本文介绍了光声成像的特点及其相对于广泛应用的光学成像技术和声学成像技术的优点; 其次, 解释了光声成像的成像原理, 在此基础上介绍了光声断层成像和光声显微镜这两种典型的光声成像方案, 并介绍了它们的技术特点; 然后, 介绍了光声成像对生物组织的生化特性、组织力学特性、血液流速分布、温度分布参数、微结构特性等多信息参量的提取能力, 及其在生物系统的结构成像、功能成像、代谢成像、分子成像、基因成像等多领域的应用; 最后, 展望了光声成像在生物医学领域的应用潜力并讨论了其局限性.     

Simulation of light delivery for photoacoustic breast imaging using the handheld probe

The photoacoustic tomography by using the handheld probe has a great potential in clinical breast imag- ing. However, tile shape of the probe limits the choice of light delivery in this setup. In this letter, we study two commonly used illumination types for handheld probe： bright-field illumination and dark-field illumination. Our results demonstrate several parameters have important impact on the photon fluence in deep breast tissue. The results will help to optimize the design of the photoaeoustie breast imaging system with a handheld probe.     

High-contrast imaging based on wavefront shaping to improve low signal-to-noise ratio photoacoustic signals using superpixel method

Photoacoustic(PA) imaging has drawn tremendous research interest for various applications in biomedicine and experienced exponential growth over the past decade. Since the scattering effect of biological tissue on ultrasound is two-to three-orders magnitude weaker than that of light, photoacoustic imaging can effectively improve the imaging depth.However, as the depth of imaging further increases, the incident light is seriously affected by scattering that the generated photoacoustic signal is very weak and the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) is quite low. Low SNR signals can reduce imaging quality and even cause imaging failure. In this paper, we proposed a new wavefront shaping and imaging method of low SNR photoacoustic signal using digital micromirror device(DMD) based superpixel method. We combined the superpixel method with DMD to modulate the phase and amplitude of the incident light, and the genetic algorithm(GA) was used as the wavefront shaping algorithm. The enhancement of the photoacoustic signal reached 10.46. Then we performed scanning imaging by moving the absorber with the translation stage. A clear image with contrast of 8.57 was obtained while imaging with original photoacoustic signals could not be achieved. The proposed method opens new perspectives for imaging with weak photoacoustic signals.     

基于光声效应的深层组织选键成像 (cited: 1)

基于分子振动吸收的光声成像技术为生物组织的化学成像提供了一个新的平台．该技术在脊髓损伤、肿瘤、及心血管疾病的检测方面有广泛的应用前景．本文综述该技术的发展历史及其在生物医学中的应用．     

利用近红外光激发的光声血管造影成像

利用近红外光结合对应波长的光吸收增强对照剂来实现在体小鼠脑皮层血管的光声成像.近红外光在生物组织上有较深的穿透能力;而作为光吸收增强剂的外源染料吲哚菁绿注射到血液系统后则增加了血管对光的选择性吸收,从而增强了血管光声信号的强度.实验在不破坏脑头皮和头盖骨的前提下,通过静脉注射吲哚菁绿,获得小鼠脑皮层血管的光声造影成像.光声重建的血管网络与小鼠脑部解剖照片相当符合.实验结果证明近红外光结合光吸收增强剂的光声血管造影技术对于开展光声脑功能成像,光声分子成像提供了潜在的可行性. 关键词： 光声成像 光吸收增强剂 血管造影 光声信号     

共焦扫描光声层析成像技术的研究

报道了一种新的光声层析成像技术－光声傅里叶变换共焦扫描成像技术，并用该技术获得了强散射物质（生物组织）的层析图像，纵向分辨能力小于0．1mm，横向分辨率小于4mm。     

Enhanced photoacoustic imaging in tissue-mimicking phantoms using polydopamine-shelled perfluorocarbon emulsion droplets

The current work features process parameters for the ultrasound (25 kHz)-assisted fabrication of polydopamine-shelled perfluorocarbon (PDA/PFC) emulsion droplets with bimodal (modes at 100–600 nm and 1–6 µm) and unimodal (200–600 nm) size distributions. Initial screening of these materials revealed that only PDA/PFC emulsion droplets with bimodal distributions showed photoacoustic signal enhancement due to large size of their optically absorbing PDA shells. Performance of this particular type of emulsion droplets as photoacoustic agents were evaluated in Intralipid®–India ink media, mimicking the optical scattering and absorbance of various tissue types. From these measurements, it was observed that PDA/PFC droplets with bimodal size distributions can enhance the photoacoustic signal of blood-mimicking phantom by up to five folds in various tissue-mimicking phantoms with absorption coefficients from 0.1 to 1.0 cm⁻¹. Furthermore, using the information from enhanced photoacoustic images at 750 nm, the ultimate imaging depth was explored for polydopamine-shelled, perfluorohexane (PDA/PFH) emulsion droplets by photon trajectory simulations in 3D using a Monte Carlo approach. Based on these simulations, maximal tissue imaging depths for PDA/PFH emulsion droplets range from 10 to 40 mm, depending on the tissue type. These results demonstrate for the first time that ultrasonically fabricated PDA/PFC emulsion droplets have great potential as photoacoustic imaging agents that can be complemented with other reported characteristics of PDA/PFC emulsion droplets for extended applications in theranostics and other imaging modalities.     

光声信号的双谱分析方法研究

基于光声效应的光声光谱技术是光学与声学的有机结合, 可利用不同波长的入射光波, 产生不同的光声信号, 从而为组分识别、组织无损检测等提供高对比度图像, 是一种极具潜力的新型医学诊断技术.但光声光谱检测技术由于受检测方法的制约, 往往扫描时间较长, 而且信号的稳定性和图像识别的准确性也较差. 为了弥补单一光声光谱分析的局限性, 根据光声效应原理和振动理论, 提出了一种光声光谱与光声频谱相结合的双谱分析方法. 该方法通过光声频域信息的定量分析, 可以有效地提高不同组织的光声图像对比度, 从而提高光声成像的组分识别能力, 为光声频谱功能成像奠定理论基础. 实验结果显示, 光声光谱与光声频谱相结合的双谱分析方法可以较好地识别实验组织样品, 可实现高速、高分辨率的组分识别、组织探伤等, 具有广泛的应用前景和重要的临床诊断意义. 关键词： 光声成像 光声光谱分析 光声频谱分析     

多模态光声分子成像进展*

现代的各种医学影像术,如射线成像、CT、正电子发射(PET)、磁共振(MR)、超声(US)、荧光(FL)等都各具特色,并成功地应用于多种疾病的诊疗。但每种影像术都不能对生物组织做出完整的描述。由若干个成像技术组成的多模态成像技术,是获得组织更多信息的有效途径。光声(PA)成像是能提供组织的成分和功能信息的新成像技术。它不仅灵敏,可以对较深层的组织进行实时、快速、安全的成像,而且可以利用光声光热造影剂实施非侵入的光热靶向治疗。因此,与光声成像相结合的多模态分子成像是实现精准诊疗的重要技术途径。该文以手持US-PA探头的双模态成像系统,直径为1 mm的血管內窥镜US-PA成像系统,可同时用于术前和术中的US-PA-FL三模态成像系统,以及采用外磁场可操控的磁共振-光声光热分子造影剂、进行MR-PA成像引导的光热治疗技术为例,对多模态光声分子成像系统在医学诊断、手术和光热治疗方面的进展做简单介绍。     

高分辨率快速数字化光声CT乳腺肿瘤成像

提出了一种基于聚焦线性阵列探测器的快速光声计算机断层成像技术（光声CT）.在光声二维图像重建中,根据阵列探测器机械扫描和电子扫描相结合的组合扫描模式,提出了改进的有限场滤波反投影重建算法.一方面该算法适合多元探测器旋转扫描模式,另一方面探测器的指向性函数作为反投影的权重因子提高了系统的横向分辨率.同时,该成像系统还利用柱面声透镜实现Z轴方向上的聚焦扫描以实现三维层析成像.实验中,这套成像系统空间分辨率达到0.2mm,Z轴方向分辨率为1.5mm,扫描一幅二维图像仅需150s,得到 关键词： 光声CT 有限场滤波反投影算法 声透镜聚焦 乳腺肿瘤检测     

基于柱弥散光源体内辐照的前列腺扫描光声成像仿体实验

光声成像技术是一种非常有前景的前列腺早期检测与成像的新技术. 在现有前列腺光声成像技术中, 通常采用的腺体外光源辐照方式由于受外围组织的影响, 容易减弱深部前列腺组织的光能量吸收, 导致辐照范围减小, 引起光声成像深度不足, 难以实现无损前列腺癌的检测. 本文基于前列腺组织的结构特征, 依据一种以柱状弥散光纤在尿道对前列腺实施光辐照、并利用外置于直肠内的长焦区聚焦式超声换能器检测光声信号的前列腺光声扫描成像技术, 构建了光声成像实验系统, 开展了仿体实验. 测试结果表明, 系统能够实现样品中吸收体的定位和成像, 结合柱弥散光源体内辐照可使成像深度提高, 同时侧向成像范围也较大. 初步结果表明, 借助柱弥散光源进行体内光辐照的光声信号新激发方式结合长焦区超声探头在前列腺癌早期无创诊断上具有潜在的应用前景.     

Multiple passive element enriched photoacoustic computed tomography

Recently, we presented a method using laser-induced ultrasound from an external absorber (passive element) to image the ultrasound transmission parameters of an object under photoacoustic tomographic investigation. The method suffers from long measurement times due to the requirement for a large number of views and consequently physical projections around the object. Here we propose and validate an approach that permits a multitude of views to be obtained within a limited projection scenario. The approach uses a plurality of spatially distributed external absorbers in the path of the light, that results in multiple laser-induced ultrasound sources to interrogate the object from a number of angles. This reduces the required number of rotation angles or physical projections around the object, permitting a considerable reduction in imaging time without significant degradation in image quality. The approach brings the concept of hybrid imaging of ultrasound transmission parameters together with photoacoustic imaging, into the realm of practical application.     

改进的同步迭代算法在光声血管成像中的应用

光声成像结合了光学成像和声学成像的优点，是一种高分辨率，高对比度的无损伤医学成像技术.一种改进的同步迭代算法应用于光声图像重建.仿真和模拟结果表明，与传统的代数迭代算法相比，在90°，135°，180°的有限场光声成像中，此算法对测量误差的校正和迭代次数的收敛上具有较大的优势，图像重建的速度和成像质量都有了明显的提高.实验中，一种圆形扫描结构的光声成像装置，用于180°的有限场扫描，利用改进的同步迭代算法，重建出了高对比度和高分辨率（60μm）的鸡胚胎光声血管图像.实验证明，这种算法的应用，大幅度减少了数据采集时间，为光声成像技术运用于实时监测血流灌注和肿瘤光动力治疗的血管损伤效应提供了潜在的应用价值. 关键词： 光声成像 有限角度 代数迭代算法 光声血管成像     

利用维纳滤波改善声透镜光声成像系统的分辨率

为了克服衍射效应对光声成像系统分辨率的限制,需要采用逆卷积方法进行图像反演.从理论上分析了声透镜成像原理,模拟仿真了声透镜的点扩展函数对声透镜成像系统分辨率的影响和维纳滤波解卷积方法复原光声成像的过程,并利用自搭建的声透镜光声成像系统进行了深入的实验研究,得到了物平面上相距4 mm和3 mm的两个黑胶带点的直接成像光声...     

光声信号的声透镜层析成像研究

提出了一种用声透镜实现光声层析成像的新模式。从理论上计算出了声透镜的响应，测出了已知声场中标准物像面处的声场分布。考虑到圆形活塞振源的指向性，对代表物成像进行了理论修正，并与实验结果做了对比分析。研究表明，利用声透镜可以实现光声层析成像，并经图像重构得到了生物组织中异物的光声图像，横向、纵向分辨力较高。     

Imaging of human wrist joint by a flexible-transducer-based morphological-adaptive photoacoustic tomography: a feasibility study

In this study, the feasibility of visualization of human joints using photoacoustic tomography(PAT) is investigated. To verify this idea, the system of integrated optical fiber bundles and a custom-made flexible transducer is established, both of which give the advantage of morphological adaptation; therefore, the coupling section can be worn on human limbs. The imaging capacity of the flexible-transducer-based PAT system is validated by mapping the structures of the finger and the wrist joint. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time to achieve photoacoustic imaging of such large human wrist joints. The cross-sectional photoacoustic images of a healthy joint clearly exhibit the main internal structures, including the phalanx, tendons, and blood vessels, which are comparable with the corresponding images by 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging.The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system holds promise for early diagnosis of joint disorders.     

基于聚焦光声层析技术的甲状腺离体组织成像

对人体甲状腺内的病变组织进行定位和成像对于准确诊断和有效治疗甲状腺疾病是至关重要的. 本文评估了利用光声层析技术对离体甲状腺组织进行成像的可行性, 并利用基于30 MHz超声换能器的聚焦光声成像系统对甲状腺进行扫描成像. 实验中成像系统的横向分辨率和纵向分辨率分别达到了350 μupm和74 μupm. 分别对正常离体甲状腺组织和模拟病变甲状腺组织进行光声成像. 实验结果表明, 本成像系统能够有效区分和鉴别正常甲状腺组织和病变组织. 此项技术有望进一步提高甲状腺疾病诊断的准确率, 以便更为有效地指导疾病的治疗, 具有潜在的临床应用前景.     

Frequency-domain photoacoustic phased array probe for biomedical imaging applications

We report the development of a frequency-domain biomedical photoacoustic imaging system that utilizes a continuous-wave laser source with a custom intensity modulation pattern, ultrasonic phased array for signal detection, and processing coupled with a beam-forming algorithm for reconstruction of photoacoustic correlation images. Sensitivity to optical contrast was demonstrated using tissue-mimicking phantoms and in-vivo tissue samples.     

Non-invasive and low-artifact in vivo brain imaging by using a scanning acoustic-photoacoustic dual mode microscopy

Photoacoustic imaging is a potential candidate for in vivo brain imaging, whereas, its imaging performance could be degraded by inhomogeneous multi-layered media, consisted of scalp and skull. In this work, we propose a low-artifact photoacoustic microscopy (LAPAM) scheme, which combines conventional acoustic-resolution photoacoustic microscopy with scanning acoustic microscopy to suppress the reflection artifacts induced by multi-layers. Based on similar propagation characteristics of photoacoustic signals and ultrasonic echoes, the ultrasonic echoes can be employed as the filters to suppress the reflection artifacts to obtain low-artifact photoacoustic images. Phantom experiment is used to validate the effectiveness of this method. Furthermore, LAPAM is applied for in-vivo imaging mouse brain without removing the scalp and the skull. Experimental results show that the proposed method successfully achieves the low-artifact brain image, which demonstrates the practical applicability of LAPAM. This work might improve the photoacoustic imaging quality in many biomedical applications which involve tissues with complex acoustic properties, such as brain imaging through scalp and skull.