Detection Schemes for Optical-Coherence-Domain Imaging of Biological Tissues

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel imaging modality based on low-coherence interferometry. This paper summarizes some of our latest work on the development of OCT where we have taken two approaches. In the first approach we have developed a phase-drift-suppression method for stable heterodyne detection in the presence of phase fluctuations. In the second approach we have concentrated on the development of two-dimensional heterodyne detection techniques for real-time imaging. A novel detection scheme has been proposed, which enables parallel heterodyne detection with a commercially available imager such as a charge-coupled-device camera. Meanwhile, a non-scanning OCT system configuration based on off-axis interferometry is being studied. Using a newly developed angular-dispersion imaging scheme, we show that the axial reflectance profile in OCT measurement can be detected instantaneously with a sensor array.     

光声成像的未来

1 光学成像的动机及其面临的挑战 目前已经有很多不同的医学成像技术。第一个技术是X射线成像,它是最早的医学成像。伦琴在1895年发现了X射线,从而诞生了医学成像这个新的领域。第二个技术是20世纪70年代发明的X射线CT,也就是计算层析成像。之后是超声成像,它历史悠久,在二战期间就已经开始发展,但没有用于医学,它的前身被称为“声纳”。较新的技术是核磁共振,它发明于20世纪70年代。相比其他成像方法,MRI（核磁共振成像）能进行功能成像,比结构成像进了一大步。     

Terahertz Microscope Based on Solid Immersion Effect for Imaging of Biological Tissues

Optics and Spectroscopy - We propose a new method of terahertz microscopy for imaging of biological tissues with a subwavelength spatial resolution. It makes it possible to surmount the Abbe...     

Development and Optimization of Three-Dimensional Spatial EPR Imaging for Biological Organs and Tissues

The development and optimization procedures for obtaining high-quality three-dimensional spatial electron-paramagnetic-resonance images of large lossy samples at L band are described. Strategies for selecting optimized parameters for projection acquisition, instrumentation, and algorithms for correcting drifts in microwave frequency and inaccuracies in the static and gradient magnetic fields are described. Image reconstruction was performed using a two-stage filtered back-projection method with spectral deconvolution. With this instrumentation, correction algorithms, and image reconstruction method, spatially accurate 3D images of radical distribution were observed in complex phantoms using 0.5 mM nitroxide labels. The results indicate that high-quality images of lossy samples, including biological organs and tissues of up to 25 mm in size, could be obtained in a reasonable time with submillimeter resolution.     

基于不同频率成份衰减矫正的光声成像方法

根据超声衰减理论,研究了光声信号不同频率成份随距离的衰减差异,及其对光声图像重建的影响;提出了对光声信号不同频率成份进行衰减矫正的成像方法,此方法增强了光声信号的高频成份,突出了吸收体的边界变化和细微的结构特征,提高了成像系统分辨率,实验结果显示系统分辨率由0.3 mm提高到0.2 mm.实验所用的光源为YAG激光器,波长为1064 nm,重复频率为20 Hz,脉宽为6 ns,探测器为针状的PVDF膜水听器,接收面积的直径为1 mm.     

Design of Two-Dimensional Optimized Banyan Networks

A smart two-dimensional optical Banyan network is proposed. Polarization switching logic of light is applied for the design of this network. The main element for the connections of the network is an optical crossbar switch that is composed of a half-wave plate, a programmable polarization switch, and a couple of birefringent plates. By the proposed optical crossbar switches, all permutations of the link patterns required in the network are generated due to the optimized design of the switching logic. As a result, complicated routing control of ordinary Banyan networks is much reduced and a simple two-dimensional optical Banyan network with straight interconnections between successive stages of the networks can be realized.     

Raman Spectroscopy of Biological Tissues

Abstract

This article reviews some of the recent advances in Raman spectroscopy, in areas related to natural tissues and cell biology. It summarizes some of the most widely used peak frequencies and their assignments. The aim of this study is to prepare a database of molecular fingerprints, which will help researchers in defining the chemical structure of the biological tissues introducing most of the important peaks present in the natural tissues. In spite of applying different methods, there seems to be a considerable similarity in defining the peaks of identical areas of the spectra. As a result, it is believed that preparing a unique collection of the frequencies encountered in Raman spectroscopic studies can lead to significant improvements both in the quantity and quality of spectral data and their outcomes. This article is the first review of its kind to provide a precise database on the most important Raman characteristic peak frequencies for researchers aiming to analyze natural tissues by Raman spectroscopy and will especially be of considerable assistance to those who are focusing on the analysis of cancerous tissues by Raman spectroscopy.     

Raman Spectroscopy of Biological Tissues

Abstract

We previously published a comprehensive review paper reviewing the Raman spectroscopy of biological molecules. This research area has expanded rapidly, which warranted an update to the existing review paper by adding the recently reported studies in literature. This article reviews some of the recent advances of Raman spectroscopy in relation to biomedical applications starting from natural tissues to cancer biology. Raman spectroscopy, an optical molecular detective, is a vibrational spectroscopic technique that has potential not only in cancer diagnosis but also in understanding progression of the disease. This article summarizes some of the most widely observed peak frequencies and their assignments. The aim of this review is to develop a database of molecular fingerprints, which will facilitate researchers in identifying the chemical structure of the biological tissues including most of the significant peaks reported both in the normal and cancerous tissues. It has covered a variety of Raman approaches and its quantitative and qualitative biochemical information. In addition, it covers the use of Raman spectroscopy to analyse a variety of different malignancies including breast, brain, cervical, gastrointestinal, lung, oral, and skin cancer. Multivariate analysis approaches used in these studies have also been covered.     

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。     

Photoacoustic Tomography of Biological Sample Using Phase-controlled Focus Algorithm

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超声换能器带宽对光声成像的影响

研究了不同尺寸吸收体产生的光声压的频谱特性：对于厘米量级、毫米量级和几百个微米量级的吸收体,产生光声压频谱的主要范围分别约为20～300kHz、70kHz～2．5MHz和400kHz～20MHz;讨论了不同频率范围的光声信号对重建图像的影响,低频段的光声信号能反映物体的非边界区域,而高频段的光声信号能突出物体的细微结构,尤其是物体的边界特征。提出了不同尺寸的吸收体要选用或设计不同带宽范围的探测器进行检测的方法．当探测器的带宽范围与光声压频谱范围基本吻合时,损失的频率成份较少,重建的光声图像效果较好,这一结论在仿真和实验结果中都得到了证明。实验用的光源为YAG激光器,波长为532nm,重复频率为30Hz,脉宽为7ns,探测器为针状的PVDF膜水听器,接收面积的直径为1mm。     

Photoacoustic Tomography of Biological Sample Using Phase-controlled Focus Algorithm

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a new imaging modality, which converts pressure signals received by a scanning detector to a local distribution of electromagnetic absorption density. In this paper an experiment result of a photoacoustic tomography to depths of ～7 mm for a real tissue is presented, using a 532-nm pulse YAG laser. The time-resolved stress detection technique was used for PA signal detection with a high temporal resolution. A phase-controlled focus algorithm was used for image reconstruction. Images of different depth profiles in tissue were obtained. The depth resolution was 30 μm and could be up to 10 μm using a wide-band tranducer.     

Photoacoustic Imaging of Animals with an Annular Transducer Array

A photoacoustic system with an annular transducer array is presented for rapid, high-resolution photoacoustic tomography of animals. An eight-channel data acquisition system is applied to capture the photoacoustic signals by using multiplexing and the total time of data acquisition and transferring is within 3 s. A limited-view filtered back projection algorithm is used to reconstruct the photoacoustic images. Experiments are performed on a mouse head and a rabbit head and clear photoacoustic images are obtained. The experimental results demonstrate that this imaging system holds the potential for imaging the human brain.     

Amplified Photoacoustic Imaging of Tumor through In Situ Cycloaddition

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging has received great attention in the field of biomedical applications due to the combination advantages of the high contrast of optical imaging and the high spatial resolution of ultrasound. The limited targeting property of PA contrast agents is restricted to elaborate its advantage. To overcome this point, a pretargeting strategy is developed to amplify the targeting property and PA imaging of a model dye in vivo. As a proof of concept, the dibenzyl cyclootyne (DBCO)‐modified Fe@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) (Fe@Fe₃O₄/DBCO) and azide‐modified Cy7.5 (Cy7.5‐N₃) are adopted as the pretargeting and PA contrast agents, respectively. Fe@Fe₃O₄/DBCO NPs are first targeted into tumors by the enhanced permeability and retention effect, and then Cy7.5‐N₃ is conjugated to the pretargeted Fe@Fe₃O₄/DBCO labeled tumor cells via strain‐promoted alkyne azide cycloaddition reaction after intravenous injection, which results in an obvious increase of the accumulated dose and PA signal of Cy7.5 in tumor, and simultaneously extends its residence time. This signal amplification strategy should have an important guiding significance for the clinical application in cancer theranostics.     

白血病人血液的光声光谱

利用光声光谱对不同类型的白血病患者和正常人的全血进行检测，发现白血病患者与正常人全血光谱图特征峰有明显差异，结果提示患者全血的光声光谱图可能对早期白血病诊断及白血病分型具有较大的临床意义。     

基于LabVIEW平台的高准确度光声成像系统设计

利用虚拟仪器开发软件LabVIEW设计了一套高准确度光声成像系统,整个系统在GPIB总线技术基础上,构架了由超声传感器、数字示波器、可调谐激光器、个人计算机等组成的硬件平台,并开发了配套的控制软件和高抗噪音图像重建算法.在活体脑结构成像中,实验鼠的左右脑、小脑、脑横裂和脑主动脉等脑结构成像清晰,大脑皮层的血管分布特征得到了完整的再现,系统成像分辨率可达200 μm.该系统和方法可望发展为一种无损伤的生物组织结构与功能成像.     

Three-Dimensional Luminescence Tomographic Visualization of Biological Tissues

Optics and Spectroscopy - We propose a method for obtaining a fluorescence tomographic image for visualization and diagnosis of tissues of a living organism. The method is based on the excitation...     

Two-Dimensional Proton Chemical-Shift Imaging of Human Muscle Metabolites

Large lipid signals and strong susceptibility gradients introduced by muscle–bone interfaces represent major technical challenges forin vivoproton MRS of human muscle. Here, the demonstration of two-dimensional proton chemical-shift imaging of human muscle metabolites is presented. This technique utilizes a chemical-shift-selective method for water and lipid suppression and automatic shimming for optimal homogeneity of the magnetic field. The 2D¹H CSI technique described facilitates the acquisition of high-spatial-resolution spectra, and allows one to acquire data from multiple muscle groups in a single experiment. A preliminary investigation utilizing this technique in healthy adult males (n= 4) revealed a highly significant difference in the ratio of the creatine to trimethylamine resonance between the fast and slow twitch muscle groups examined. The technique is robust, can be implemented on a commercial scanner with relative ease, and should prove to be a useful tool for both clinical and basic investigators.     

Pharmacokinetic Monitoring of Indocyanine Green for Tumor Detection Using Photoacoustic Imaging

We report tumor detection using a photoacoustic technique for the imaging of angiogenesis and monitoring of agent pharmacokinetics on an animal model. We take 532-nm laser pulses to excite photoacoustic signals of blood vessels with acquisition by a broadband hydrophone, and the morphological characteristics of tumor angiogenesis are successfully image depicted. Furthermore, tumor pharmacokinetics is preformed and analyzed with fast multielement photoacoustic imaging of the intravenous-injected indocyanine green （ICG）. Photoacoustic signals of ICG are excited with 805 nm laser pulses and recorded by transducer array as a function of time. The difference between the photoacoustic signal from the tumor side and that from the normal side is observed, and the ICG clearance velocity in the tumor area is found to lag behind that in the normal area. Experimental results demonstrate that photoacoustie imaging of morphological parameter and pharmacokinetics with specific agent may provide high sensitive approach for tumor detection and localization.