An Yan1,2, Li Lin2,3, Changjun Liu1, Junhui Shi2, Shuai Na2, Lihong V Wang2. 1. School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China. 2. Caltech Optical Imaging Laboratory, Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Department of Medical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA. 3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MI, 63130, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography (TAT) of adult human brain. METHODS: We analyzed the electric field distribution radiated from an antenna to acquire homogeneous illumination. We first imaged the anatomical structures in a rat's trunk to validate the thermoacoustic contrast in vivo. We then imaged an agar cylinder through an adult human skull ex vivo to demonstrate transcranial penetration of both microwave and ultrasound. We also analyzed the specific absorption rate to show the conformance to the safety standard for human electromagnetic exposure. RESULTS: We successfully acquired cross-sectional images of the rat's trunk in vivo. Major blood vessels and organs are clearly visible. The transcranial image shows that TAT can image through the adult human skull and reveal an agar enclosed by the skull. CONCLUSIONS: Microwave-induced TAT of a rat's trunk in vivo and an agar phantom through an adult human skull ex vivo has been demonstrated experimentally. This study demonstrates both the TAT contrasts in vivo and the capability of transcranial imaging, showing potential of TAT for adult human brain imaging with high contrast and penetration.
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography (TAT) of adult human brain. METHODS: We analyzed the electric field distribution radiated from an antenna to acquire homogeneous illumination. We first imaged the anatomical structures in a rat's trunk to validate the thermoacoustic contrast in vivo. We then imaged an agar cylinder through an adult human skull ex vivo to demonstrate transcranial penetration of both microwave and ultrasound. We also analyzed the specific absorption rate to show the conformance to the safety standard for human electromagnetic exposure. RESULTS: We successfully acquired cross-sectional images of the rat's trunk in vivo. Major blood vessels and organs are clearly visible. The transcranial image shows that TAT can image through the adult human skull and reveal an agar enclosed by the skull. CONCLUSIONS: Microwave-induced TAT of a rat's trunk in vivo and an agar phantom through an adult human skull ex vivo has been demonstrated experimentally. This study demonstrates both the TAT contrasts in vivo and the capability of transcranial imaging, showing potential of TAT for adult human brain imaging with high contrast and penetration.
Authors: Jacob Ellegood; Brooke A Babineau; R Mark Henkelman; Jason P Lerch; Jacqueline N Crawley Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2012-12-26 Impact factor: 6.556
Authors: Liming Nie; Xin Cai; Konstantin Maslov; Alejandro Garcia-Uribe; Mark A Anastasio; Lihong V Wang Journal: J Biomed Opt Date: 2012-11 Impact factor: 3.170