Caltech’s PACTER Brings 3D Capabilities and Simplification to Photoacoustic Technology
Recent advancements at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have marked a significant leap in the field of medical imaging.
The research, led by Lihong Wang, a Bren Professor of Medical Engineering and Electrical Engineering at Caltech, has enhanced an existing photoacoustic imaging technology, PATER (Photoacoustic Topography Through an Ergodic Relay), evolving it into a more advanced form known as PACTER (Photoacoustic Computed Tomography Through an Ergodic Relay).
This new development, detailed in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, demonstrates a remarkable simplification of the imaging process, enabling 3D imaging capabilities and reducing the complexity of operations.
Understanding Photoacoustic Imaging
Photoacoustic imaging is a technique that uses laser light pulsed into tissue, absorbed by tissue molecules, causing them to vibrate. These vibrations create ultrasonic waves, which are used to image internal structures in a manner similar to ultrasound imaging.
However, capturing the imaging information, which is produced in a single short burst, has been a technological challenge, necessitating arrays of hundreds of sensors to capture the data effectively.
The PATER to PACTER Evolution
The initial iteration, PATER, required multiple sensors to capture imaging data, making the technology both complex and costly. The transition to PACTER has significantly reduced the number of required sensors to a single transducer.
This was achieved through the use of an ergodic relay, which slows down the rate at which information flows into a transducer, effectively allowing it to collect as much data as 6,400 transducers. This breakthrough simplifies the equipment required for imaging, making it more practical for various medical applications.
Advantages of PACTER
PACTER’s most notable advancement is its ability to create three-dimensional images, a significant improvement over PATER’s two-dimensional imaging capabilities. This was enabled by the development of sophisticated software.
Furthermore, PACTER eliminates the need for per-use calibration, a process that was necessary with PATER. The addition of a delay line to the system resolves issues with echoes in the imaging process, making it more efficient.
Potential Applications and Impact
The research paper, Ultrafast longitudinal imaging of haemodynamics via single-shot volumetric photoacoustic tomography with a single-element detector,” highlights PACTER’s potential in monitoring vital signs, visualizing human haemodynamics, and potentially assisting in the early detection and monitoring of peripheral vascular diseases.
Its convenient, affordable, and compact design makes PACTER suitable for a variety of clinical applications, including home-care monitoring, biometrics, point-of-care testing, and non-invasive haemodynamic monitoring in intensive care units.
Caltech’s PACTER technology is a significant advancement in medical imaging, offering a simpler, more efficient, and three-dimensional imaging solution. This innovation is set to revolutionize the field of medical imaging and open new possibilities in medical diagnostics and treatment.