Development of Translational Photoaccoustic Imaging System For Metathesis Detection

Shuoqi Chen, Geoffrey Luke

Abstract: Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a hybrid biomedical imaging method that uses a pulsed laser to generate acoustic waves within the tissue to collect both functional and structural information of the target. As a new biomedical imaging modality, PA technology has gained much momentum in the field of biomedical imaging, and it witnessed rapid growth in terms of the instrumentation, molecular imaging capabilities, and application in clinical medicine research. The Norris Cotton Cancer Center at DHMC would benefit greatly from including the photoacoustic technology to better detect cancer tissues and tailor specialized therapy for patients; however, currently there is no immediate PA imaging application at DHMC. By taking a first step at implementing a clinical application of the PA technology, the proposed project will not only provide a more accurate and possibly immediate image feedback that the medical workers much needed, but also lead the way for more advanced technology, including the use of combined optical-imaging techniques such as confocal microscopy or optical-coherence tomography.