Photoacoustic imaging of valves in superficial veins.
OBJECTIVE
In intravenous access to veins there is a risk of puncturing venous valves or blocking of the catheter by the valves. Therefore, we have investigated whether and how photoacoustic imaging (PAI), which visualizes the lumen of blood vessels, can be used to detect these valves.


METHODS
Venous valves in superficial veins on the dorsal side of the hand of human volunteers were located by palpation and visual inspection. Next, this location was imaged using PAI.


RESULTS
In 16 of 21 human volunteers venous valves that were found by palpation could be observed by PAI as local discontinuities in the imaged vessel. From these images, four characteristic features by which venous valves can be recognized in photoacoustic images were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
PAI has the potential to be applied in the detection of venous valves.
Kolkman
Roy G M
RG
Biophysical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. r.g.m.kolkman@utwente.nl
Bosschaart
Nienke
N
Kok
Ben
B
van Leeuwen
Ton G
TG
Steenbergen
Wiendelt
W
D000162:Acoustics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D010173:Palpation; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*