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DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING FOR THE CLINICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES

光声成像在临床和生命科学中的发展和应用

基本信息

批准号：
EP/H005536/1
负责人：
Paul Beard
金额：
$ 234.89万
依托单位：
University College London
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Fellowship
财政年份：
2009
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2009 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FH005536%2F1
关键词：
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING CLINICAL

项目摘要

The purpose of this research is to develop a promising new biomedical imaging technique called photoacoustic (PA) imaging. This involves firing very short (nanosecond) pulses of laser light into tissue. The light is absorbed by structures such as blood vessels producing a small heating effect. This leads to rapid thermoelastic expansion which generates high frequency (~tens of MHz) acoustic waves which travel though the tissue back to the surface. By measuring the time of arrival of these acoustic waves at a number of detectors positioned over the tissue surface, and with knowledge of the speed of sound, the acoustic signals can be backprojected to produce a 3D image of the internal absorbing structures within the tissue. The key advantage of the technique is that it combines the strong contrast of optical methods with the high spatial resolution available to ultrasound. This may make the technique a powerful diagnostic tool for identifying abnormalities such as certain types of cancer tumours that would be difficult to see using conventional medical imaging techniques such as X-ray or ultrasound imaging. This technique has many potential clinical applications, including detecting tumours in the breast, assessing skin abnormalities such as malignant melanomas or soft tissue damage such as burns or wounds. It can also be used to image small animals such as mice which are used extensively to model a wide range of human diseases. One of the most exciting features of photoacoustic imaging is its potential to characterise specific molecular processes, so called molecular imaging. This is achieved using probe molecules that strongly absorb certain wavelengths of light and have a high affinity for a specific cellular or molecular receptor that is characteristic of a particular disease such as cancer. In order to advance the technique to practical application, a substantial research program will be undertaken. A novel high resolution instrument, designed for non invasive imaging to depths of several mm, will be developed both for clinical use, for example to study skin pathologies and for the pre-clinical study of disease processes in small animal models. Endoscopic probes that are capable of being inserted into the body and guided deep within to image, for example, the inside of coronary arteries to assess the plaques that can build up and cause heart attacks will be developed. In addition, a dedicated instrument will be designed for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancers and monitoring their treatment. Novel methods for recovering physiological information such as blood oxygenation and flow will also be explored and clinically tested. A programme of in vivo imaging both in humans and small animals to apply and validate these methods is planned, with specific emphasis on demonstrating the utility of the technique for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological conditions. Overall this research offers the prospect of developing a powerful new diagnostic imaging tool that can be used to advance our understanding of disease mechanisms at an anatomical, physiological and molecular level and improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other major diseases.

本研究的目的是开发一种新的生物医学成像技术，称为光声成像。这包括向组织发射非常短(纳秒)的激光脉冲。光被血管等结构吸收，产生很小的加热效果。这会导致快速的热弹性膨胀，产生高频(~数十兆赫)声波，声波通过组织传回表面。通过测量这些声波到达位于组织表面上的多个检测器的时间，并且在知道声速的情况下，可以反向投影声信号以产生组织内的内部吸收结构的3D图像。这项技术的关键优势是它结合了光学方法的强对比度和超声波可用的高空间分辨率。这可能会使这项技术成为一种强大的诊断工具，用于识别某些类型的癌症肿瘤等异常情况，而使用传统的医学成像技术，如X射线或超声波成像，很难看到这些异常情况。这项技术有许多潜在的临床应用，包括检测乳房肿瘤，评估皮肤异常，如恶性黑色素瘤或软组织损伤，如烧伤或伤口。它还可以用来对小动物进行成像，例如小鼠，这些小动物被广泛用于模拟各种人类疾病。光声成像最令人兴奋的特征之一是它有可能表征特定的分子过程，即所谓的分子成像。这是通过使用探针分子来实现的，这些探针分子强烈地吸收某些波长的光，并对特定的细胞或分子受体具有高亲和力，这种受体是癌症等特定疾病的特征。为了将这项技术推向实际应用，将进行大量的研究计划。将开发一种新的高分辨率仪器，设计用于几毫米深度的非侵入性成像，既可用于临床，例如研究皮肤病理，也可用于小动物模型的疾病过程的临床前研究。将开发能够插入人体并被引导深入体内成像的内窥镜探头，例如冠状动脉内部，以评估可能形成并导致心脏病发作的斑块。此外，还将设计一种专用仪器，用于乳腺癌的早期发现和诊断，并监测其治疗情况。还将探索恢复血液氧合和血流等生理信息的新方法，并进行临床测试。计划在人类和小动物身上进行活体成像，以应用和验证这些方法，并特别强调展示该技术在诊断和治疗癌症、心血管疾病和神经疾病方面的效用。总体而言，这项研究提供了开发一种强大的新诊断成像工具的前景，该工具可用于在解剖学、生理学和分子水平上促进我们对疾病机制的理解，并改善癌症和其他重大疾病的临床诊断和治疗。