HIGH-FREQUENCY ULTRASONIC AND PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING SYSTEM

描述(由申请人提供)：为了增强华盛顿大学NIH资助项目的研究能力，将购买最先进的基于高频阵列的超声成像系统(即，VisualSonics Vevo 2100)，并为新型光声断层扫描(PAT)定制。超声成像和PAT提供互补的对比度；前者测量机械对比度并提供形态和血流成像，而后者测量光学对比度并提供无斑点的功能和分子成像(例如，血红蛋白的总浓度和氧饱和度)。将PAT纳入超声检查不仅将丰富临床前的小动物研究，而且通过促进医生对PAT的接受，还将加快翻译和临床研究。 Vevo 2100于2008年底发布，目前还没有在华盛顿大学使用。高频超声成像通过提供精细的空间和时间分辨率改变了传统的超声成像；这种基于超声阵列的模型将取代较老的基于单一元件的Vevo 770。新系统提供了进一步提高的成像速度和空间分辨率，可以适应各种动物模型，包括：小鼠、大鼠、兔子、斑马鱼和鸡胚胎；加强其在包括肿瘤学、心脏病学、发育生物学和药物开发在内的多学科研究领域的作用。 PAT是发展最快的生物医学成像技术之一；它允许在体内的超深度-超出光学传输平均自由程的深度(皮肤中约1毫米)-高分辨率传感丰富的光学对比度。虽然商业上可用的高分辨率三维光学成像手段--包括共焦显微镜、双光子显微镜和光学相干断层扫描--已经从根本上影响了生物医学，但没有一种能够达到散射生物组织的超深度。PAT使用低超声散射，相当于将组织的光学透明度提高了1000倍，从而以高分辨率穿透超深度；实现了基于光学对比度的功能和分子成像。PAT可以在体内以相同的对比度来源在多个长度尺度上对亚细胞器和器官进行成像。虽然PAT有望得到广泛的应用，但多尺度PAT可能会在多尺度生物学研究中发挥关键作用。 与公共卫生相关：先进的成像技术对于生物标志物检测以及疾病的早期诊断是不可或缺的。在组织结构的背景下检测疾病特异性生物标记物的功能和分子成像将深刻地影响生物医学。高频超声成像和光声成像的结合将加快基础生物医学研究，提高临床医疗水平。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): To enhance the research capabilities of NIH-funded projects in Washington University, a state-of-the-art high frequency array-based ultrasound imaging system (i.e., Visual Sonics Vevo 2100) will be acquired and custom-built for novel photoacoustic tomography (PAT). Ultrasound imaging and PAT provide complementary contrasts; the former measures mechanical contrast and provides morphological and flow imaging, whereas the latter measures optical contrast and provides speckle-free functional and molecular imaging (e.g., total concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin). Incorporating PAT into ultrasonography will not only enrich preclinical small-animal research, but also accelerate translational and clinical research by facilitating physicians' acceptance of PAT. Vevo 2100 was released at the end of 2008 and is not yet available at Washington University. High-frequency ultrasonic imaging has transformed conventional ultrasonic imaging by providing exquisite spatial and temporal resolution; this ultrasound-array-based model will supplant the older single-element-based Vevo 770. The new system, which offers further improved imaging speed and spatial resolution, can accommodate a variety of animal models, including: mouse, rat, rabbit, zebra fish, and chick embryo; reinforcing its role in multidisciplinary research areas that include oncology, cardiology, developmental biology, and drug development. PAT is one of the fastest growing biomedical imaging technologies; it permits high-resolution sensing of rich optical contrast at super-depths in vivo-depths beyond the optical transport mean free path (~1 mm in the skin). While commercially available high-resolution three-dimensional optical imaging modalities-including confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy and optical coherence tomography-have fundamentally impacted biomedicine, none can reach super-depths in scattering biological tissue. PAT uses low ultrasonic scattering to equivalently improve tissue optical transparency by a factor of 1000 and consequently penetrates super-depths at high resolution; simultaneous optical contrast-based functional and molecular imaging has been achieved. PAT can image sub cellular organelles and organs at multiple length scales in vivo with the same contrast origin. While PAT is expected to find broad applications, multiscale PAT will likely play a critical role in multiscale biology research. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Advanced imaging technologies are integral to biomarker detection as well as early diagnosis of disease. Functional and molecular imaging that detects disease-specific biomarkers in the context of tissue structure will profoundly impact biomedicine. The combination of high-frequency ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic imaging will accelerate basic biomedical research and enhance clinical healthcare.