Combined multi-modal photoacoustic tomography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography system with an articulated probe for in vivo human skin structure and vasculature imaging

Abstract

Cutaneous blood flow accounts for approximately 5% of cardiac output in human and plays a key role in a number of a physiological and pathological processes. We show for the first time a multi-modal photoacoustic tomography (PAT), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography system with an articulated probe to extract human cutaneous vasculature in vivo in various skin regions. OCT angiography supplements the microvasculature which PAT alone is unable to provide. Co-registered volumes for vessel network is further embedded in the morphologic image provided by OCT. This multi-modal system is therefore demonstrated as a valuable tool for comprehensive non-invasive human skin vasculature and morphology imaging in vivo.

Automated registration of magnetic resonance imaging and optoacoustic tomography data for experimental studies

“…The rapid deployment of OAT as stand-alone technique or as partner in multimodal imaging approaches in combination with modalities, such as MRI, 11,17,18,39 Raman imaging, 40,41 and optical coherence tomography, 42 requires the development of an OAT-tailored automated and robust image registration method. Currently available comprehensive toolkits for automated registration focus on well-established imaging modalities, such as CT, MRI, PET, and single-photon emission computer tomography.…”

Correlated Multimodal Imaging in Life Sciences: Expanding the Biomedical Horizon

“…MALDI MSI was combined with laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma MS (LAICP MS) to study lipid changes colocalized with platinum, sulfur or phosphor distributions [74], and SIMS data were combined with topographical information from AFM to record accurate chemical 3D maps [75]. Advanced PHI includes R&D setups and pipelines that showcase combinations of in-vivo OI, OCT/PAI, US, MRI, CT, or PET [8,76]. Examples as outlined in section Preclinical Hybrid Imaging include label-free imaging using OCT and RS [57], or the combination of MRI and OI [77].…”

“…Several workflows have so far been established that solved the above-mentioned challenges on sample preparation, relocalization of ROIs, and data correlation. Recent examples for multiscale combinations of in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging include the correlation of intravital microscopy, CT and EM to study single tumor cells in the cerebral vasculature [81]; correlation of X-ray holographic nano-tomography, EM and FM to disentangle dense neuronal circuitry in Drosophila melanogaster and mammalian central and peripheral nervous tissue [82]; correlation of local neuronal and capillary responses by two-photon microscopy with mesoscopic responses detected by ultrasound (US) and BOLD-fMRI [83]; or extended CMI pipelines that include the correlation of a variety of imaging technologies, such as non-invasive US, CT and highresolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) for phenotyping left/right asymmetries of all visceral organs in a mouse model of heterotaxy or combined OCT, PAI and HREM of chick embryos at multiple development stages [8,84,85]. Further examples of novel CMI pipelines that uncover biophysical or chemical information include the correlation of FM, molecular (MALDI MSI) and elemental imaging [X-ray fluorescence (XRF)] to analyze lipids and elements relevant to bone structures in the very same sample section of a chicken phalanx without tissue decalcification at the µm scales [86].…”

“…This includes for example the quantification of the correlation accuracy in CLEM or biomedical imaging ontologies. Apart from standardization, both PHI and CLEM leave room for optimization and the integration of advanced setups, such volume or super-resolution CLEM [6,7] or hybrid preclinical multimodal platforms for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Photoacoustic Imaging (PAI), and non-linear in-vivo microscopy [8]. For the routine implementation of CMI in biomedical research, several common bottlenecks need to be overcome, such as sample handling and preparation procedures that are compatible across modalities without compromising data quality, soft-and hardware solutions to relocate the same region of interest (ROI) after transfer between imaging platforms including fiducial markers, and automated software solutions to correlate complex, multiscale, multimodal and volumetric image data including reconstruction, segmentation and visualization.…”

Cooperative Three-View Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography for Intraoperative Vascular Evaluation

“…Optical coherence tomography is a noninvasive optical imaging modality that can provide high-speed, high-resolution, three-dimensional images of biological samples [6]. Ever since its invention, it has been widely used for diagnosis, therapy monitoring, and ranging [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Combined with Doppler flow sensing principle, phase resolved Doppler OCT (PRDOCT) was developed to get the sample structure and flow information simultaneously [14].…”