Seno Medical Instruments, Inc.

Tomowave Laboratories, Inc.

The University of Texas System

Other

Alexander A Oraevsky

Sergey A Ermilov

Andre Conjusteau

Jason Zalev

Bryan Clingman

Donald G Herzog

Rinat O Esenaliev

Peter Brecht

Vyacheslav Nadvoretskiy

Richard Su

Massoud Motamedi

Alexander A Karabutov

Anton Liopo

Donald S Prough

Thomas G Miller

Steven Louis Jacques

Mark Anastasio

Paul Mark Henrichs

Dmitri Lapotko

Elena Petrova

Dmitri A Tsyboulski

Provided herein are imaging systems such as a system for quantitative tomography and a laser optoacoustic ultrasonic imaging system assembly (LOUISA) for imaging a tissue region, for example, a breast, in a subject. Generally, the system components are a laser that emits instant pulses of laser light in a wavelength cycling mode, fiberoptic bundles or optical arc-shaped fiber bundles configured to deliver laser light, an imaging module with an imaging tank, an optoacoustic array(s) of ultrawide-band ultrasonic transducers and ultrasound array(s) of ultrasonic transducers and a coupling medium and an electronics subsystem. Also provided is a method for imaging quantitative functional parameters and/or molecular parameters and anatomical structures in a volumetric tissue region of interest, such as a breast, in a subject utilizing the system for quantitative tomography.

Quantitative imaging system and uses thereof

Provided herein are quantitative optoacoustic tomography systems and methods for dynamic of functional parameters in a subject, for example, to assess conditions of the peripheral vasculature. The system generally has a pulsed laser, a fiberoptic optic bundle light delivery system, and imaging module, an array of ultrawide-band ultrasonic transducers, a circulation system, and electronics/computer system for system control and three-dimensional and two-dimensional optoacoustic image visualization. Also provided is a method for quantitative optoacoustic tomography of an appendage where an appendage of a subject is imaged under conditions of normal, maximum and minimum tolerable temperatures and displaying differential anatomical images of peripheral vasculature in the appendage and functional diagnostic parameters as a function of time and temperature. From this data medical conditions of the appendage may be diagnosed.

Quantitative optoacoustic tomography for dynamic angiography of peripheral vasculature

Provided herein are the systems, methods, components for a three-dimensional tomography system. The system is a dual-modality imaging system that incorporates a laser ultrasonic system and a laser optoacoustic system. The dual-modality imaging system generates tomographic images of a volume of interest in a subject body based on speed of sound, ultrasound attenuation and/or ultrasound backscattering and for generating optoacoustic tomographic images of distribution of the optical absorption coefficient in the subject body based on absorbed optical energy density or various quantitative parameters derivable therefrom. Also provided is a method for increasing contrast, resolution and accuracy of quantitative information obtained within a subject utilizing the dual-modality imaging system. The method comprises producing an image of an outline boundary of a volume of interest and generating spatially or temporally coregistered images based on speed of sound and/or ultrasonic attenuation and on absorbed optical energy within the outlined volume.

Laser optoacoustic ultrasonic imaging system (LOUIS) and methods of use

A real-time imaging system that provides ultrasonic imaging and optoacoustic imaging coregistered through application of the same hand-held probe to generate and detect ultrasonic and optoacoustic signals. These signals are digitized, processed and used to reconstruct anatomical maps superimposed with maps of two functional parameters of blood hemoglobin index and blood oxygenation index. The blood hemoglobin index represents blood hemoglobin concentration changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background blood concentration. The blood oxygenation index represents blood oxygenation changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background level of blood oxygenation. These coregistered maps can be used to noninvasively differentiate malignant tumors from benign lumps and cysts.

Dual modality imaging system for coregistered functional and anatomical mapping

An optoacoustic imaging system includes a hand-held imaging probe having a light emitting portion and an array of ultrasonic transducers. The probe includes an acoustic lens having an optically reflective material that operates to avoid image artifacts associated with light interactions with the acoustic lens. The optically reflective material may be a thin, highly optically reflective metallic layer. The acoustic lens may be formed from a material such as silicone rubber filled with titanium dioxide or barium sulfate that allows it to reflect and scatter light from illumination components with substantially no absorption of such light, and yet be optically opaque. The probe may include a housing that provides hypo-echoic encapsulation of the probe. An assembly of the array of ultrasonic transducers may include a hypo-echoic material. The probe may include optical windows, each comprising one or more anti-reflection coated plates with acoustic impedance matching that of tissues to be imaged.

Optoacoustic imaging system having handheld probe utilizing optically reflective material

Provided herein are system and methods for monitoring and guiding thermal therapy procedures within a human or animal tissue. The system comprises a therapeutic module configured to apply thermal treatment to a subject; an ultrasound imaging module; an optoacoustic imaging module; a processing module connected to both ultrasound and optoacoustic based imaging module; and an operating controlling module connected with said processing module and configured to manipulate at least one of said therapeutic module, ultrasound imaging module or optoacoustic imaging module. The calibration method is able to eliminate the inconsistency of optoacoustic based temperature measurements caused by sample-to-sample and spatial variations of Gruneisen parameter for different tissues. The method for temperature-structure imaging is able to generate both two dimensional and three dimensional co-registered structure and temperature images for the tissues inside a region of interest of a subject.

Optoacoustic image mapping of tissue temperature

A real-time imaging method that provides ultrasonic imaging and optoacoustic imaging coregistered through application of the same hand-held probe to generate and detect ultrasonic and optoacoustic signals. These signals are digitized, processed and used to reconstruct anatomical maps superimposed with maps of two functional parameters of blood hemoglobin index and blood oxygenation index. The blood hemoglobin index represents blood hemoglobin concentration changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background blood concentration. The blood oxygenation index represents blood oxygenation changes in the areas of diagnostic interest relative to the background level of blood oxygenation. These coregistered maps can be used to noninvasively differentiate malignant tumors from benign lumps and cysts.

Method for dual modality optoacoustic imaging

Methods and compositions for gelatin based tissue mimicking opto-acoustic phantom that accurately replicates opto-acoustic properties of biological tissue and permits matching of each optical and each acoustic property of specific tissues independently so that by changing one property the other property is not altered. Such phantoms can match tissue properties in the specific range of system parameters required for evaluation of hardware and software performance, calibration, validation or personnel training of optical, optoacoustic, ultrasonic or combined system used for imaging, sensing or monitoring of tissue morphology and molecular composition.

Methods and compositions for tissue-equivalent opto-acoustic phantoms

A method for optoacoustic imaging of a tissue mass after treating the skin overlying a portion of a tissue being imaged to improve optical clarity is presented. In an embodiment, the method involves optoacoustic imaging after first applying a carrier agent such as hyaluronic acid to the skin surface and applying a clearing agent to the skin. A method of temporarily reducing optical scattering (opacity) of skin for diagnostic purposes is also presented. In an embodiment, the method involves applying a liquid comprising at least one of: polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, to the skin, the skin having been pretreated with hyaluronic acid.

Methods and compositions for carrier agents and clearing agents used in optoacoustic imaging systems

Provided herein are dual contrast agents or nanocomposite particles designed to enhance optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging. The contrast agents or particles have a core designed to enhance response to incident transient ultrasonic pressure waves and at least two layers disposed around the core. The inner first layer is designed to effectively absorb incident transient optical waves, convert absorbed optical energy into heat and demonstrates significant thermal expansion and/or conversion of thermal energy into acoustic pressure. The outer second layer thermally insulates the inner layer from the surrounding aqueous environment and enhances the generation of transient ultrasonic pressure waves during optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and sensing. Also provided are methods of enhancing contrast in a tissue optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and producing enhanced optoacoustic images by contacting the tissue with the dual contrast agent or nanocomposite particles.

Optoacoustic-ultrasonic contrast agents with enhanced efficiency

Provided herein are dual modality imaging systems and methods within displayed anatomical structures of placenta in real time. The imaging system comprises a dual modality laser optoacoustic and ultrasonic platform with a plurality of subsystems for delivering near infrared light, optoacoustic and ultrasonic pulses to the placenta and/or associated tissue and deep anatomic structures, for detecting ultrasonic pulses generated or reflected within the tissue using a multi-channel optoacoustic-ultrasound probe and associated transducers. The dual modality imaging system displays the results obtained as quantitative functional images of the parameters coregistered with anatomic tissue images. A multichannel electronic system comprising a computer tangibly storing software enables processor-executable instructions to calculate quantitative functional parameters of the placental blood within specific anatomical tissue structures and display quantitative functional optoacoustic images of the functional parameters within specific anatomical structures in the tissue that are visualized by ultrasound.

Optoacoustic-ultrasonic system for coregistered functional and morphological imaging of placentas

Provided herein are methods and system to increase selective thermomechanical damage to a biological body, such as a cancer cell or cell associated with a pathophysiological condition. The biological body or cancer cell is specifically targeted with nanoparticulates comprising one or more targeting moieties which form nanoparticulate clusters thereon or therewithin. Pulsed electromagnetic radiation, e.g., optical radiation, having a wavelength spectrum selected for a peak wavelength near to or matching a peak absorption wavelength of the nanoparticulates selectively heats the nanoparticulates thereby generating vapor microbubbles around the clusters causing damage to the targets without affecting any surrounding medium or normal cells or tissues. Also provided is a method of treating leukemia using the methods and system described herein.

Laser-activated nanothermolysis of cells

Provided herein is an optoacoustic imaging system configured to produce images of one or more objects in a body using at least a maximum angular amplitude probability algorithm to reconstruct the optoacoustic images of the body. In addition the optoacoustic imaging system may be configured to produce 3D maps from the reconstructed optoacoustic images of the body. Also, provided is a method for diagnosing a pathophysiological condition characterized by abnormal optical properties of tissues in a body from maps so produced.

Quantitative optoacoustic tomography with enhanced contrast

A method of enhancing detection for a specific object in a body. A nanoparticulate is administered to the body for location in an area to be explored for detection of the object, if present. The nanoparticulate is at least partially metallic, has a formed non-spherical shape having a minimal characteristic dimension in the range from about 1 to about 3000 nanometers, and has a formed composition capable of producing thermal pressure either in the nanoparticulate or in the object greater than the object could produce in the absence of the nanoparticulate. Electromagnetic radiation is directed into the body. The electromagnetic radiation has a specific wavelength or spectrum of wavelengths in the range from 300 nm to 300 mm selected so that the wavelength or wavelength spectrum is longer by a factor of at least 3 than the minimum characteristic dimension of the nanoparticulate. The nanoparticulate absorbs the electromagnetic radiation more than would one or more non-aggregated spherically shaped particles of the same total volume with a composition identical to the nanoparticulate. The nanoparticulate produces an enhanced optoacoustic signal resulting from the absorption that is received and converted into an electronic signal and presented for assessment of the at least one parameter by a human or a machine.

High contrast optoacoustic imaging using nanoparticles

An optoacoustic apparatus is disclosed which includes a radiation source of pulsed radiation and a probe having a front face to be placed in close proximity to or in contact with a tissue site of an animal body. The probe further includes a plurality of optical fibers terminating at the surface of the front face of the probe and connected at their other end to a pulsed laser. The front face of the probe also has mounted therein or thereon a transducer for detecting an acoustic response from blood in the tissue site to the radiation pulses connected to a processing unit which converts the transducer signal into a measure of venous blood oxygenation.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Alexander A Oraevsky