A new paradigm for high-speed photoacoustic small animal whole-body imaging

Schematic diagram of the high-speed rotation scanning photoacoustic computed tomography system developed by the research group. Credit: POSTECH
The research team has developed an advanced continuous rotational scanning photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) system for rapid imaging of living organisms. The research is published in the journal Laser & Photonics Reviews.
There is increasing recognition of the need to track systemic dynamics to understand complex biological processes and disease progression in living organisms. A variety of imaging techniques are currently used in small animal models, including X-ray CT, MRI, PET, and optical imaging, each with its own advantages and limitations. This has led researchers to explore PACT as a tool to observe the structural, functional, and molecular properties of biological tissues.
The PACT system combines the strengths of optical and ultrasound imaging and represents a promising alternative to traditional imaging methods. However, traditional whole-body PACT approaches are limited by long whole-body imaging times and unilateral views.
To address these challenges, the team developed the PACT system to rapidly capture multiple biological parameters within the torso of small animals. The system uses an array of rapidly rotating hemispherical ultrasound transducers that can collect multiple data points simultaneously at a significantly faster rate than traditional step-by-step scanning. With this innovation, researchers were able to obtain a 360° anatomical image of a rat’s torso in just 9 seconds, complete a full-body scan in 54 seconds, and achieve a spatial resolution of approximately 212 micrometers (μm). It’s done.
The system allowed the team to visualize whole-body structures and monitor changes in pharmacokinetics and hemoglobin oxygen saturation in live animals. In particular, the ability to observe oxygen saturation across a wide range of tissues is expected to greatly improve our understanding of oxygen transport and distribution within complex biological systems.
The team was led by Professor Chulhong Kim from POSTECH’s Department of Electrical Engineering, Department of Convergence IT Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and School of Convergence Science and Technology. This included POSTECH Artificial Intelligence Research Institute researcher Seongwook Choi (Ph.D., Stanford University); and Jingye Yang, a researcher in the Department of Electrical Engineering (PhD candidate at Caltech).
Professor Kim stated the significance of the research, saying, “This technology rivals the performance of existing imaging techniques and also provides molecular and functional information.”
Dr. Choi said, “This system provides valuable insight into the rapid dynamics and oxygen dynamics of biological systems in preclinical studies.”
Further information: Jinge Yang et al, Multiplane Spectroscope Whole-Body Photoacous Computer Tomography of Small Animals In Vivo, Laser & Photonics Reviews (2024). DOI: 10.1002/lpor.202400672
Provided by Pohang University of Science and Technology
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