Estimation of partial optical path length in the brain in subject-specific head models for near-infrared spectroscopy

Three-dimensional head models with the structures constructed from the MR head images of 40 volunteers were constructed to analyze light propagation in the subject-specific head models. The mean optical path length in the head and the partial optical path length in the brain at 13 fiducial points for each volunteer were estimated to evaluate the intersubject and spatial variability in the optical path lengths. Although the intersubject variability in the optical path lengths is very high, the spatial variability in the average of the mean optical path length and partial optical path length is similar to the previously reported data. The mean optical path length in the head increases, whereas the partial optical path length in the brain decreases with an increase in the depth of the brain surface. The partial optical path length is highly correlated with the depth of the brain surface in comparison to the mean optical path length in the head.     

Three-dimensional laser-induced photoacoustic tomography of mouse brain with the skin and skull intact

Three-dimensional laser-induced photoacoustic tomography, also referred to as optoacoustic tomography, is developed to image animal brain structures noninvasively with the skin and skull intact. This imaging modality combines the advantages of optical contrast and ultrasonic resolution. The distribution of optical absorption in a mouse brain is imaged successfully. The intrinsic optical contrast reveals not only blood vessels but also other detailed brain structures, such as the cerebellum, hippocampus, and ventriculi lateralis. The spatial resolution is primarily diffraction limited by the received photoacoustic waves. Imaged structures of the brain at different depths match the corresponding histological pictures well.     

新生儿脑部光学参数的无损检测

生物组织的光学参数与组织中各种生化、生理以及病理过程密切相关。利用频域近红外光谱技术,使用一个140 MHz的射频振荡源对不同波长的半导体激光管进行调制,通过精确测量距离光源一定距离处光子密度波的相位延迟和幅度衰减,并借助于一个光学参数已知的校准模型,实现了对23个新生儿头部组织光学参数的定量测量。并且根据两个波长(788和832 nm)下的吸收系数的测量结果进一步得到了新生儿脑部组织的生理学参数。实验结果表明,这种便携式的频域近红外光谱系统可以有效地获取新生儿头部的光学和生理学参数。     

Improving the diffuse optical imaging spatial resolution of the cerebral hemodynamic response to brain activation in humans

We compare two geometries of sources and detectors for optimizing the diffuse optical imaging resolution of brain activation in humans. Because of limitations in the instruments' dynamic range, most diffuse optical brain activation images have used only nonoverlapping measurements. We demonstrate theoretically and with a human experiment that a simple geometry of sources and detectors can provide overlapping measurements within the limitation of instrumentation dynamic range and produce an image resolution and localization accuracy that is twofold better.     

Effect of Superficial Tissue on Spatial Sensitivity Profile of Optical Brain Activity Measurement Evaluated by Direct Hybrid Monte Carlo-Diffusion Method

The light propagation in the brain is highly affected by the superficial tissues such as skin, skull and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The development of an adequate model to calculate light propagation in the head is very important for optical brain activity measurement. We developed a novel approach, the direct hybrid Monte Carlo-diffusion method (DHMDM), which can calculate light propagation in the three-dimensional head models including low scattering regions in which the light propagation does not obey either the diffusion approximation or the radiosity theory. The effect of thickness of the superficial tissue upon the spatial sensitivity profiles for optical brain activity measurement is evaluated by the DHMDM. The sensitivity to the brain activity decreases with increasing thickness of the superficial layer whilst the spatial decay of sensitivity on the brain surface depends little upon the thickness of the superficial layer.     

Noninvasive photoacoustic angiography of animal brains in vivo with near-infrared light and an optical contrast agent

Optical contrast agents have been widely applied to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of optical imaging with near-infrared (NIR) light. However, because of the overwhelming scattering of light in biological tissues, the spatial resolution of traditional optical imaging degrades drastically as the imaging depth increases. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, we present noninvasive photoacoustic angiography of animal brains in vivo with NIR light and an optical contrast agent. When indocyanine green polyethylene glycol, a novel absorption dye with prolonged clearance, is injected into the circulatory system of a rat, it obviously enhances the absorption contrast between the blood vessels and the background tissues. Because NIR light can penetrate deep into the brain tissues through the skin and skull, we are able to successfully reconstruct the vascular distribution in the rat brain from the photoacoustic signals. On the basis of differential optical absorption with and without contrast enhancement, a photoacoustic angiograph of a rat brain is acquired that matches the anatomical photograph well and exhibits high spatial resolution and a much-reduced background. This new technology demonstrates the potential for dynamic and molecular biomedical imaging.     

Diffuse optical measurement of blood flow, blood oxygenation, and metabolism in a human brain during sensorimotor cortex activation

We combine diffuse optical and correlation spectroscopies to simultaneously measure the oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentration and blood flow in an adult human brain during sensorimotor stimulation. The observations permit calculation of the relative cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen in the human brain, for the first time to our knowledge, by use of all-optical methods. The feasibility for noninvasive optical measurement of blood flow through the skull of an adult brain is thus demonstrated, and the clinical potential of this hybrid, all-optical noninvasive, methodology can now be explored.     

Multimode lasers as analogs of complex biological systems (a survey)

Simulating the activity of complex biological systems, in particular, the human brain, is a topical problem the solution of which is necessary both for understanding their functioning and for developing new classes of computational system based on operating principles of the brain. Some features and analogies that can be found in the operation of laser systems and brain and used for developing new generation computational systems are discussed. The appropriateness of such analogies is justified by the fact that both laser systems and the brain are open (interacting with the environment) dissipative spatially distributed nonlinear systems. Therefore, laser optical systems and, in particular, systems with dissipative optical solitons offer an opportunity to experimentally and theoretically model some important cognitive brain functions. One of particularities of the brain operation is the ability to manipulate images. Proceeding from this, in this work, problems related to generation and amplification with laser of spatial structures (images), as well as to amplification of signals coming to it from outside are discussed.     

Detection of heterotopic gray matter in children by magnetic resonance imaging

Heterotopic gray matter results from abnormal brain development and is a recognized focus of seizures. It may be associated with mental retardation and/or severe malformations of the brain. Three patients with heterotopia of gray matter were identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CT failed to detect the heterotopic gray matter in each case. One child was referred for removal of a neoplasm based on CT studies until MRI demonstrated the developmental nature of his condition. One infant had severely dysplastic left cerebral hemisphere associated with heterotopic gray matter and the syndrome of Hypomelanosis of Ito. All three children suffered from seizures and/or mental retardation. MRI provided important information in the management of each case and appears to be the imaging method of choice in evaluating children with seizures or retardation for heterotopic gray matter in the brain.     

颅脑创伤近红外实时监测技术研究

采用一套专门设计的由微创光纤探头组成的光纤光谱仪生物组织光学参数测试系统,对颅脑创伤的大鼠创伤侧和对照侧进行近红外光谱检测及脑水含量(brain water content:BWC)测定.通过采用Feeney's自由落体撞击法建立大鼠急性局灶性脑挫裂伤模型,以近红外光谱技术和干湿比重法监测伤后脑水肿的变化.实验发现:伤后1 h,伤侧脑组织已发生水肿,伤后24～72 h,伤侧脑水肿达高峰,随后逐渐下降;用脱水剂后,脑水肿情况逐渐好转,随着药物失效,水肿又一次发生.生物组织优化散射系数(Reduced Scat-tering Coefficient:μ's)与Bwc的变化规律一致,有很好的线性相关性,能够较好的反映脑组织水肿程度以及药物脱水效果.证实近红外光谱技术用于颅脑创伤实时监测的可行性,为颅脑创伤的研究提出了一种新技术.     

Processing of emotional words measured simultaneously with steady-state visually evoked potentials and near-infrared diffusing-wave spectroscopy

Background  

Emotional stimuli are preferentially processed compared to neutral ones. Measuring the magnetic resonance blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response or EEG event-related potentials, this has also been demonstrated for emotional versus neutral words. However, it is currently unclear whether emotion effects in word processing can also be detected with other measures such as EEG steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) or optical brain imaging techniques. In the present study, we simultaneously performed SSVEP measurements and near-infrared diffusing-wave spectroscopy (DWS), a new optical technique for the non-invasive measurement of brain function, to measure brain responses to neutral, pleasant, and unpleasant nouns flickering at a frequency of 7.5 Hz.     

Scattering differentiates Alzheimer disease in vitro

The molecular bases of Alzheimer disease and related neurodegenerative disorders are becoming better understood, but the means for definitive diagnosis and monitoring in vivo remain lacking. Near-infrared optical spectroscopy offers a potential solution. We acquired transmission and reflectance spectra of thin brain tissue slabs, from which we calculated wavelength-dependent absorption and reduced scattering coefficients from 470-1000 nm. The reduced scattering coefficients in the near infrared clearly differentiated Alzheimer from control specimens. Diffuse reflectance spectra of gross brain tissue in vitro confirmed this observation. These results suggest a means for diagnosing and monitoring Alzheimer disease in vivo, using near-infrared optical spectroscopy.     

Brain T1 in young children with sickle cell disease: evidence of early abnormalities in brain development

Measurement of tissue spin lattice relaxation time (T(1)) has been used to characterize brain development in healthy children. Here we report the first study of brain T(1) in young children with sickle cell disease (SCD). The T(1) in 10 tissue samples was measured by established techniques; 46 SCD patients under the age of 4 years were compared to 267 controls, including 55 well children under the age of 4 years. A model was developed to predict the relationship between age and brain T(1) in controls, then we compared patient T(1) to healthy normal T(1). Most white matter and gray matter tissues in infant patients (<2 years old), had T(1) values significantly higher than normal. For example, 15.0% of patient caudate T(1) values were above the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval for controls, but only 2.5% of normal values are expected to be this high (p = 0.0003). Among infant patients, brain T(1) was significantly higher than normal in every tissue (p < 0.01) except cortical gray matter. However, patient T(1) values declined rapidly to values lower than normal by about age 4. Our findings imply that patients follow an abnormal developmental trajectory beginning early in infancy.     

A correlative optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy approach to locating nanoparticles in brain tumors

The growing use of nanoparticles in biomedical applications, including cancer diagnosis and treatment, demands the capability to exactly locate them within complex biological systems. In this work a correlative optical and scanning electron microscopy technique was developed to locate and observe multi-modal gold core nanoparticle accumulation in brain tumor models. Entire brain sections from mice containing orthotopic brain tumors injected intravenously with nanoparticles were imaged using both optical microscopy to identify the brain tumor, and scanning electron microscopy to identify the individual nanoparticles. Gold-based nanoparticles were readily identified in the scanning electron microscope using backscattered electron imaging as bright spots against a darker background. This information was then correlated to determine the exact location of the nanoparticles within the brain tissue. The nanoparticles were located only in areas that contained tumor cells, and not in the surrounding healthy brain tissue. This correlative technique provides a powerful method to relate the macro- and micro-scale features visible in light microscopy with the nanoscale features resolvable in scanning electron microscopy.     

Recent progress in tissue optical clearing

Tissue optical clearing technique provides a prospective solution for the application of advanced optical methods in life sciences. This paper gives a review of recent developments in tissue optical clearing techniques. The physical, molecular and physiological mechanisms of tissue optical clearing are overviewed and discussed. Various methods for enhancing penetration of optical‐clearing agents into tissue, such as physical methods, chemical‐penetration enhancers and combination of physical and chemical methods are introduced. Combining the tissue optical clearing technique with advanced microscopy image or labeling technique, applications for 3D microstructure of whole tissues such as brain and central nervous system with unprecedented resolution are demonstrated. Moreover, the difference in diffusion and/or clearing ability of selected agents in healthy versus pathological tissues can provide a highly sensitive indicator of the tissue health/pathology condition. Finally, recent advances in optical clearing of soft or hard tissue for in vivo imaging and phototherapy are introduced.     

近红外光谱的阵列扫描式灵敏度法探测颅脑血肿

利用近红外光谱技术对脑组织进行检测实现脑血肿的定位一直以来都是无损光学诊断的研究热点.为了实现开放式全方位的精准探测,基于功能性近红外光谱技术提出一种新的方法—阵列扫描式灵敏度法,即建立全方位阵列探测器,通过单边阵列式扫描检测来获取不同探测位置的光通量,计算每个探测器的探测灵敏度,就能得到全方位的探测信息.首先,建立单...     

多通道差分吸光度用于颅内血肿快速检测

近红外光密度差异法检测创伤性硬膜血肿具有快速、无创等优点,是近几年组织光学的研究热点,在急救临床上有着重要应用。为了进一步提高对颅脑外伤患者血肿程度的检测精度,采用多通道差分吸光度方法获得头部左右对称吸光度数据,即利用与近红外光源距离不同的5个检测器采集颅脑对称位置的光密度信息,计算对称位置的差分吸光度,利用偏最小二乘法建立脑部光学吸收系数与差分吸光度数据之间的校正模型,实现对颅内硬膜血肿程度的预测。可以检测具有不同头皮颅骨厚度患者是否出现硬膜血肿,也可预测脑血肿程度。模型仿真预测结果显示,所建立预测模型对硬膜血肿部分的光学吸收系数预测平均相对误差为11.16%,对血肿发生深度预测平均相对误差小于1%,基本满足创伤性硬膜血肿程度的无创检测需求。将多通道差分吸光度法引入到脑部血肿近红外光谱无创检测中来,可以明显消除个体差异对检测结果的影响,有效提高脑血肿检测精度,并能实现对患者脑血肿程度的预测,该方法为近红外光谱脑部检测研究提供了新的思路和重要参考。     

Progressive current degradation and breakdown behavior in GaN LEDs under high reverse bias stress

The progressive current degradation and breakdown behaviors of GaN-based light emitting diodes under high reversebias stress are studied by combining the electrical, optical, and surface morphology characterizations. The current features a typical "soft breakdown" behavior, which is linearly correlated to an increase of the accumulative number of electroluminescence spots. The time-to-failure for each failure site approximately obeys a Weibull distribution with slopes of about 0.67 and 4.09 at the infant and wear-out periods, respectively. After breakdown, visible craters can be observed at the device surface as a result of transient electrostatic discharge. By performing focused ion beam cuts coupled with scan electron microscope, we observed a local current shunt path in the surface layer, caused by the rapid microstructure deterioration due to significant current heating effect, consistent well with the optical beam induced resistance change observations.     

脑组织漫反射光谱与约化散射系数的斜率估算法

约化散射系数是生物组织光学研究中的一个重要的组织光学参数。利用微光纤探头与光纤光谱仪组成漫反射光谱采集系统对脑组织约化散射系数的实时在位测量进行研究。通过悬乳液与模拟胶模型实验推导了700～850nm波段约化散射系数与漫反射光谱斜率绝对值的关系式,用模型对公式的计算精度进行验证,利用该系统实时在位测量了20只大鼠脑组织在700nm、750nm和800nm处的约化散射系数。经统计分析,大鼠脑白质约化散射系数在上述波长处分别为30±5cm-1、28±5cm-1和25±6cm-1,脑灰质约化散射系数则分别为14±3cm-1、13±3cm-1和12±3cm-1。脑组织约化散射系数实时在位测量对脑外科微创手术中的组织识别具有重要的参考意义。     

Optical fiber synaptic sensor

Understanding neuron connections is a great challenge, which is needed to solve many important problems in neurobiology and neuroengineering for recreation of brain functions and efficient biorobotics. In particular, a design of an optical synapse capable to communicate with neuron spike sequences would be crucial to improve the functionality of neuromimmetic networks. In this work we propose an optical synaptic sensor based on an erbium-doped fiber laser driven by a FitzHung-Nagumo electronic neuron, to connect with another electronic neuron. Two possible optical synaptic configurations are analyzed for optoelectronic coupling between neurons: laser cavity loss modulation and pump laser modulation. The control parameters of the proposed optical synapse provide additional degrees of flexibility to the neuron connection traditionally controlled only by coupling strengths in artificial networks.