OP: Collaborative Research: Development of Advanced Image Reconstruction Methods for Pre-Clinical Applications of Photoacoustic Computed Tomographry

这一合作研究项目将为光声计算机断层扫描(PACT)的临床前应用开发先进的图像重建方法。PACT是一种很有前途的生物医学成像技术，在过去的十年中得到了迅速的发展，在血管生物学、肿瘤学、神经病学、皮肤科、胃肠病学和心脏病学等领域都有应用。PACT可以绕过许多现有方法的限制，提供详细的三维解剖、功能和分子信息，可以促进广泛的生物医学研究。这项研究项目将极大地提高PACT的图像质量，这将加速这种新兴成像模式的广泛采用。该项目的目标将通过在数学和生物医学成像科学方面相互补充的高级专业知识的合作来实现。该项目旨在从计算和实验的角度解决生物医学成像中的建模和反演方面的几个具有挑战性的问题。(1)将开发先进的超声计算机断层扫描(USCT)重建方法来确定声学非均质性。(2)将开发新的光声计算机层析成像(PACT)重建方法，以补偿声学不均匀。(3)发展新的PACT/USCT联合图像重建方法，同时重建吸收光能密度和声速分布。(4)创新的非均匀粘弹性介质PACT重建方法将用于经颅脑成像。(5)所开发的图像重建方法将在小动物的活体成像中得到验证。由此产生的方法将为将这些算法应用于与波相关的生物医学成像问题开辟新的场所。

This collaborative research project will develop advanced image reconstruction methods for pre-clinical applications of photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT). PACT is a promising biomedical imaging technique, which has been developed rapidly in the past decade, with applications explored in vascular biology, oncology, neurology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and cardiology. PACT can circumvent the limitations of many existing approaches and provide detailed three-dimensional anatomical, functional, and molecular information that can facilitate a wide range of biomedical studies. This research project will dramatically improve image quality in PACT, which will accelerate the widespread adoption of this emerging imaging modality. The project goals will be accomplished through a collaboration that involves complementary high-level expertise in the mathematical and biomedical imaging sciences.The project aims at addressing several challenging problems in biomedical imaging in terms of modeling and inversion from both computational and experimental perspectives. (1) Advanced ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) reconstruction methods will be developed for determination of acoustic heterogeneities. (2) New photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) reconstruction methods will be developed to compensate for acoustic heterogeneities. (3) Novel methods for joint PACT/USCT image reconstruction will be developed to reconstruct the absorbed optical energy density and speed of sound distributions simultaneously. (4) Innovative PACT reconstruction methods in heterogeneous viscoelastic media will be developed for transcranial brain imaging. (5) The value of the developed image reconstruction methods will be demonstrated for in-vivo imaging of small animals. The resulting methods will open new venues for applying these algorithms to wave-related biomedical imaging problems.